Standing Water.
I Bring the Pumps.
Phil Sheridan · IICRC Certified · Edmond, OK
Professional water extraction across Edmond and OKC. I answer my phone.
If there's standing water in your house right now, here's what you need to know: it's fixable, it's not going to ruin your home, and the fastest way to limit the damage is to get the water out.
That's what I do. My name is Phil Sheridan. I run 4D Restoration out of Edmond, and emergency water extraction is the part of this job where speed actually matters. Not "we'll get back to you" speed. Truck-loaded-and-heading-your-way speed.
Every Hour Matters. Here's Why.
Water damage doesn't sit still. The puddle on your kitchen floor right now is soaking into your subflooring, spreading behind your baseboards, and absorbing into materials that get more expensive to replace the longer they stay wet.
The faster the water comes out, the less your floors absorb. Less absorption means less drying time, less tear-out, and less cost. That's the math. It's not complicated, but it does have a clock on it.
What Happens When I Get to Your House.
I assess before I touch anything. The FLIR thermal camera comes out first. It shows me where the water traveled — behind walls, under cabinets, into spaces you can't see from standing in the doorway. I take moisture readings across the affected area. I identify the source if it hasn't been shut off yet.
Then I start pulling water. Submersible pump goes into the deepest water first. You can see the water level drop within minutes. For carpet, I use a truck-mount extractor — it pulls water out of pad and carpet at a rate your shop-vac physically can't match. Weighted extraction tools go on top of the carpet and press water out of the padding underneath like a slow, methodical squeeze.
While the water's coming out, I'm building your file. Time-stamped photos. Moisture readings at every surface the water touched. Materials inventory. When your insurance adjuster walks through, I hand them a documentation package, not a guess.
What's on the Truck.
I keep the truck loaded because water emergencies don't schedule themselves.
- Submersible pumps — for standing water removal. Goes into the deep end first.
- Truck-mount extractor — for embedded water in carpet and padding. Commercial strength.
- Weighted extraction tools — press water out of carpet padding without tearing it up.
- FLIR thermal camera — shows where water went that your eyes can't see.
- HEPA air scrubbers — start cleaning the air while extraction is in progress. Prevents mold spore spread.
- LGR dehumidifiers — begin drawing moisture out of the structure as soon as extraction finishes. Learn how the drying science works.
I've measured the same carpet twice because I couldn't believe how much water was still in the pad after it looked dry on top. That's why the instruments matter. Looks dry and IS dry are two different things.
Not All Water Is the Same.
Category 1: Clean water. A broken supply line, a leaking water heater, ice maker overflow. Standard extraction. This is the most common call I get.
Category 2: Gray water. Dishwasher overflow, washing machine discharge, sump pump failure. Contains contaminants. Extraction plus antimicrobial treatment.
Category 3: Sewage or storm flood water. This one requires full PPE, containment, and specialized protocols. I'm equipped for it. Your mop isn't. That's not a judgment — it's a safety thing.
The category determines the extraction method, the safety requirements, and how your insurance adjuster classifies the claim. I explain which one you're dealing with before I start.
Your Insurance Covers This. Here's How We Make Sure.
Emergency water extraction is typically covered under your homeowner's policy as part of your water damage claim. The key word your adjuster is looking for is "mitigation" — that means the work done to prevent further damage. Extraction is mitigation.
I document everything from the moment I arrive. Arrival time, water depth and location, affected materials, moisture readings before and after extraction. I scope the job in Xactimate — the same software your adjuster uses. When my numbers match their format, the conversation gets shorter.
Questions About Water Extraction.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=01 "How fast can you get here?" ▶ ENTER
I'm typically on-site within 60 minutes for Edmond and the OKC metro. I start prepping while I'm on the phone with you — I'll walk you through shutting off the source and what to move off the floor before I arrive.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=02 "What should I do while I'm waiting?" ▶ ENTER
Turn off the water source if you can find it. Move anything lightweight off the wet floor — shoes, laundry baskets, rugs. Don't move heavy furniture unless you can do it safely. And don't use a regular household vacuum on standing water — they're not built for it and it's a shock hazard.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=03 "How long does extraction take?" ▶ ENTER
It depends on how much water and how large the area. A contained kitchen flood from a burst supply line might be 2-3 hours of active extraction. A full first-floor event after a storm could be half a day. I stay until the standing water is out.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=04 "Is extraction the same as drying?" ▶ ENTER
No. Extraction is getting the visible water out of your house. <a href='/services/water-damage/structural-drying/'>Drying</a> is removing the moisture that absorbed into your materials — subfloor, drywall, framing. Extraction takes hours. Drying takes days. They're two separate phases, and both need to happen.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=05 "Can I just rent a pump from the hardware store and do this myself?" ▶ ENTER
For a small contained spill, maybe. For standing water across a room or more, a rental pump and a shop-vac won't get the water out of your carpet padding, won't find the moisture behind your walls, and won't generate the documentation your insurance company needs. The equipment gap between consumer and commercial extraction is real.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=06 "Will my insurance pay for emergency extraction?" ▶ ENTER
In most cases, yes. Emergency extraction is classified as "mitigation" — work done to prevent further damage — and that's typically covered under water damage claims. I handle the documentation so your claim is supported from minute one.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=07 "How do I know when extraction is done?" ▶ ENTER
When the instruments say so. I take moisture readings across every affected surface before and after extraction. The meter tells me when standing water is fully removed and when the remaining moisture level is low enough to transition to the drying phase. I don't guess. The numbers decide.
Your house is going to be fine. Let me prove it.
Call Phil.
405-896-9088I answer my phone. I show up. I pull the water out.
"Tell me what you're seeing. I'll tell you what it means."