Case study · Bothell, WA · January 2024
January 2024 Bothell Residence water mitigation, mold abatement and complete restoration
A catastrophic freeze caused extensive water damage throughout a Bothell home while the owner was out of the country. The heat had been turned down, allowing the home's piping to freeze and rupture. Water ran for 11 days before a neighbor noticed it flowing out of the roof soffits.
- On site in an hour or less
- IICRC certified crews
- Based in Alderwood Manor, Washington
- We bill your insurance direct
- 11 days
- Water ran before a neighbor noticed
- Same evening
- On site the night of the call (Jan 19)
- 93%
- Relative humidity in the living room
- 24 in
- Break in the fire-sprinkler pipe
- 3
- Freeze-damaged shower/tub mixing valves
Ready to respond
Absolute Water Damage secured the project because we had the staff and capacity to respond promptly and begin work right away — an advantage when larger nationwide mitigation providers may not be able to mobilize as quickly. After receiving the call on the evening of January 19, 2024, we met at the property that same evening to assess the damage. We returned the following day with equipment to begin mitigation.
Extensive damage throughout the home
The initial inspection revealed a partially collapsed living room ceiling, fallen drywall and blown-in insulation, saturated carpeting, and heavily water-damaged furniture. Relative humidity measured 93% in the living room, and moisture readings indicated widespread saturation. Every room showed effects of the prolonged water release.
Water mitigation and contents handling
Following a January 22 walkthrough with the insurance adjuster and authorization to proceed, our crew organized the cleanup and moved personal belongings and furniture into rented storage. Wet insulation, carpeting, drywall, and affected fixtures were removed, with moisture readings guiding the extent of material removal. Wet linens, clothing, pillows, and other washable items were sent out for cleaning.
Finding the source and restoring the home
Removal of the attic insulation exposed an approximately 24-inch break in the fire suppression piping above the second-floor landing, including a 90-degree elbow. After the initial repair, pressure testing identified additional freeze damage at all three shower/tub mixing valves. The affected supply lines were capped to allow further testing, which found no additional leaks.
The overall project encompassed water mitigation, mold abatement, and complete restoration of the home. Absolute Water Damage's ability to mobilize promptly provided a coordinated start to a major recovery effort, from the initial emergency response through restoration.
Timeline
- 1
Jan 19, 2024 · evening
Call received — on site that same evening to assess the damage
- 2
Jan 20
Crew returns with equipment and mitigation begins
- 3
Jan 22
Walkthrough with the insurance adjuster; authorization to proceed
- 4
Mitigation
Contents to rented storage, wet materials removed by moisture reading, washables sent out
- 5
Source
24-inch sprinkler-pipe break found in the attic; three mixing valves found by pressure test
- 6
Restoration
Mold abatement and complete restoration (after photos dated June 2024)
Frozen pipe or water where it shouldn't be? Ray mobilizes the same day.
Every hour standing water sits, the repair gets bigger. Call now, or start your request in 30 seconds.
Before and after
Same rooms, same home — from collapsed ceiling to move-in ready.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterAll 28 job photos
Every photo from the job, room by room.
Straight from Ray's job folders — the damage, the drying, the source of the leak and the finished rooms. Tap any photo to see it full size.
Living room and dining area — below ground zero
Directly under the break. The living room ceiling partially collapsed, dropping drywall and blown-in insulation onto the furniture; the dining table took the water through the ceiling.
The great room
Wet TGI floor beams, hardwood removed, drywall flood-cut and air movers running — then rebuilt start to finish.
Second-floor family room — below the master bathroom
Carpet saturated from above; dehumidifiers ran until readings came back dry, and the room was put back together.
The culprits — a broken 1.25-inch fire-sprinkler pipe and three shower mixers
Pulling the attic insulation exposed the split sprinkler line above the landing. Pressure testing after the repair found freeze damage at all three shower/tub mixing valves.
Moisture readings
Readings decided what came out and what could be dried in place — and when the job was actually dry.
Crawlspace
Water that runs for 11 days finds the crawlspace too. Insulation and vapor barrier checked, air movers set.
On camera
See what the first hours of a job like this look like.
No stock footage and no actors — this is Ray on actual Puget Sound losses. Tap for sound on any clip.
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- Black water, burst pipes, mold — handled the same night, not next week
- Every reading and photo goes into the file for your insurance adjuster
- Ray answers his own phone and is usually on site inside the hour
Turn the sound on — it's the real job site.
Every hour costs money
Tell us what's wet. We'll be there before it gets worse.
Fill this out and we'll call you right back. If water is moving right now, skip the form — call Ray directly and he'll dispatch while you're still on the phone.
Open 24 hours — every day of the year · Alderwood Manor, Washington · 20+ years serving the Puget Sound