
Water Damage & Sewer Backup Service in Manitoba
Water produced from an unsanitary source has the potential to carry harmful pathogens that can be hazardous to your health if handled without the required protective equipment or cleaning agents. Left untreated, water damage can lead to mould growth and further damages to your property and the valuables within. At Priority Restoration, we are certified water damage restoration experts and our Project Managers and Technicians has the expertise to assess and restore flood and water damage caused by sewer backups, burst pipes and more.
We know experiencing property damage is a stressful situation. That is why we are committed to helping property owners during these difficult times by providing exceptional restoration services. Our team works efficiently to prevent further water damage by starting the drying process immediately. We understand that water and flood damage is time-sensitive. The longer you wait to repair the damage caused by water, the greater the chances for additional damages.
Sustaining water damage to your home or business can also affect the contents stored within. Important documents, treasured photos albums or family heirlooms can all be adversely affected by water or mould damage. Items once thought to be lost forever may be restored and returned to pre-loss condition with the expertise of our Contents Restoration Department. Let Priority be your restoration contractor of choice and give you comfort and peace of mind while we repair and restore your home, business and possessions.
Why Choose Priority Restoration for Water Damage & Structural Restoration in Manitoba?
Priority Restoration is a preferred contractor for over 30 insurance companies and offers the most comprehensive insurance restoration for properties affected by flood, sewer backups and water damage. At Priority Restoration, our team of trained Project Managers and Technicians have exceptional technical knowledge and adheres to IICRC standards for assisting in water damage restoration, sewer backup cleaning and odour control. Other benefits of choosing Priority Restoration include:
24-hour Emergency Service
If you have experienced water damage to your home or business, our team is ready to go to work the moment you need us. You can call us on our 24-hour emergency service line at 204-786-3344 to set up an appointment with one of our Project Managers. For non-urgent requests send us an email.
Ongoing Communication
We keep the lines of communication open between you and your insurance provider so that all parties are informed of each and every step of the water restoration process.
Certified with State-of-the-art Equipment
With over 35 years of experience and over 150 employees, the Priority Restoration team has the expert training, experience and specialized drying equipment to mitigate water damage to your property.
If you would like to schedule a water damage and structural restoration assessment for your home or business within Winnipeg and the surrounding area, call us at 204-786-3344.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if I have water or fire damage in my home or business?
The first step is to call your insurance provider’s after-hours claims service line (if available) to open a claim. If you can’t reach your insurer, you can call your broker for assistance.
No matter what, you can always call Priority Restoration 24/7 at 204-786-3344 to begin emergency services immediately — regardless of claim status. Acting quickly helps reduce damage and control costs.
If you prefer, we also offer private restoration options. A Project Manager will review scope, costs, and timelines with you before work begins so you can make an informed decision.
What can I expect during the emergency mitigation repairs?
During the emergency mitigation phase, our restoration professionals focus on stabilizing your property and
preventing further damage. Depending on the type and extent of the loss, this may include:
- Extracting water from affected areas
- Removing damaged drywall, flooring, insulation, or other materials
- Performing asbestos testing when required by law
- Installing specialized drying and dehumidification equipment
In some cases, contents from the affected area may need to be removed for protection. Certain items may be transported to our secure facility for professional cleaning, storage, or processing.
Your Project Manager will explain what is required in your specific situation and keep you updated throughout the process. Every claim is unique, and our response is tailored to the needs of your property to ensure a safe and effective restoration.
Who determines if I have coverage for my insurance claim?
Your insurance provider and adjuster are the only ones who decide what is or isn’t covered under your policy. Priority Restoration does not make coverage decisions.
While your claim is under review, we can perform essential mitigation services such as water extraction, drying, or securing your property to prevent further damage. Please note that if your claim is not approved, you are responsible for the cost of this work. To help keep expenses low, we perform only the minimum necessary mitigation until coverage is confirmed.
If you choose to delay work until coverage is confirmed, you are still responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent additional damage to your home or business, as required under most insurance policies.
What is a cause of loss?
A cause of loss is the specific event that damages your home or business — for example, a ruptured hot water tank, hail damage to a roof, or a fire caused by a faulty appliance.
It’s important to understand that while insurance policies usually do not cover repair or replacement of the cause itself, the damage that results from the cause may be covered under your policy. In some cases, the cause of loss must be retained for further investigation. Do not dispose of it until your adjuster or restoration contractor confirms it is safe to do so.
At Priority Restoration, we inspect your property, help identify the cause of loss, and provide a detailed damage assessment and report to your insurance adjuster.
Why is your staff taking photos and videos of my property?
Your insurance company requires full documentation of the damages, which includes photos and videos. This information is included in our reports to help your adjuster determine the cause of loss and review what may or may not be covered under your policy.
In some cases, we also need to document areas that appear unaffected. This is because building materials, finishes, or systems often run continuously throughout a property. Having a complete record helps your adjuster understand the full scope of the situation and make an informed coverage decision.
Our role is to ensure your insurance provider has accurate and detailed documentation so that claims decisions can be made fairly and repairs can proceed without unnecessary delays.
How long will the drying equipment be in my home?
When water damage occurs, our restoration crews install specialized drying and dehumidification equipment in the affected areas of your home or business. Water can seep into walls, floors, and hidden spaces where it isn’t visible. Leaving equipment running is critical to ensure these areas are thoroughly dried and to prevent further damage.
Drying time varies depending on the extent of water damage, building materials, and environmental conditions. Our mitigation experts strategically place the equipment to maximize efficiency and will remove it once moisture readings confirm that the structure is dry.
If you have any concerns with the equipment setup or operation, contact your Project Manager right away for support.
What happens if the drying equipment stops working or displays an error code?
If your drying or dehumidification equipment stops working, makes unusual noises, or shows an error code, call Priority Restoration immediately at 204-786-3344 (24/7). The equipment must remain running to properly dry your property and prevent additional water damage. Our team will dispatch a technician to inspect and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
How will the drying equipment affect my electricity bill?
We use a variety of drying and dehumidification equipment, including fans, dehumidifiers, and specialized systems for hardwood floors, crawlspaces, mould or asbestos abatement, and odour control.
The impact on your electricity bill will depend on the amount of equipment required and how long it needs to run. Your Project Manager can give you an estimated cost based on your specific project.
What is a Post Water inspection?
A post-water inspection is performed after your property has sustained water damage to confirm that all affected areas are fully dry and safe for repairs to begin.
Our certified technicians use moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to carefully inspect walls, floors, and other building materials. If additional drying is required, they may adjust the equipment placement or settings and return for another inspection at a later date.
Once your property is confirmed dry, our team will remove the drying equipment and take final photos and moisture readings for your Project Manager to review before moving the project into the repair stage.
Do I need to take time off work while restoration work is being done in my home?
No. As long as you allow us to install a lockbox on your property, our team can access the site as needed to keep the project on schedule without disrupting your workday or personal appointments.
You can trust Priority Restoration, our carefully screened employees, and our vetted subcontractors to worprofessionally, safely, and respectfully in your home while you go about your day.
Can I live in my home during the mitigation or repair process?
In most cases, yes — you can remain in your home during the mitigation or repair process. However, this will depend on the location and extent of the damage, as well as whether specialized work such as asbestos abatement is required.
Your insurance company and Project Manager will review your specific situation and advise you on whether it is safe for you and your family to stay in the home. If temporary relocation is needed, they will help guide you through the process.
What happens if mould or asbestos is found in my home?
Priority Restoration is an industry leader in mould remediation and asbestos abatement for residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. Our specially trained Project Managers understand the risks associated with hazardous materials and will work with you to develop a safe, customized remediation plan for your property.
We also coordinate with your insurance provider to determine coverage, as not all mould or asbestos removal may be included under every policy. Regardless of coverage, our team ensures that all remediation work is performed to the highest standards of safety, compliance, and quality.
Why are asbestos samples being taken in my home?
If your home or business was built before 1990, asbestos testing is legally required before certain building materials can be disturbed during restoration or renovation. Common materials that may contain asbestos include drywall compound, flooring, insulation, ceiling texture, and pipe wrap.
Taking samples ensures that any work is completed safely and in compliance with provincial regulations. If asbestos is found, it must be properly removed by trained professionals before repairs can continue.
Priority Restoration is certified in asbestos handling and abatement, and our team will guide you through the process to ensure your property is restored safely and according to all health and safety standards.
We also coordinate with your insurance provider to determine coverage, as not all mould or asbestos removal may be included under every policy. Regardless of coverage, our team ensures that all remediation work is performed to the highest standards of safety, compliance, and quality.
My house was built before 1990, but I’ve since renovated it. Why are asbestos samples still being taken?
Even if your home has been renovated, asbestos testing is still required unless you can provide clear documentation showing when the renovations were completed and that all original asbestos-containing materials were removed.
This is because many renovations involve painting over existing drywall, installing new flooring over old flooring, or leaving some original materials in place. Without verified testing records, there is no way to confirm whether asbestos may still be present in concealed layers of your home.
By law, restoration contractors must take samples in any home built before 1990 to ensure safety and compliance. Priority Restoration follows all provincial health and safety regulations to protect you, your family, and our workers.
My personal items were affected by the damage to my home or business. What will happen to them?
Our specially trained staff will carefully assess, photograph, and document your belongings affected by fire, water, or mould damage. Items that require further care will be safely packed out and transported to our secure contents facility, where they can be professionally cleaned, restored, and stored until they are ready to be returned to you.
Will my contents be taken out of my home for cleaning and repair?
Yes. Any contents that cannot be restored on-site will be carefully packed out and transported to our 40,000 sq. ft. facility, where our team will clean, deodorize, and restore them using specialized equipment. Once processed, your belongings are kept in our climate-controlled storage facility until they are ready to be returned to you.
If your items were not directly affected by the loss, we may still remove them to protect them during the repair process. These items will be stored safely on-site, in a secure storage pod, or at our facility until restoration work is complete
What happens to those items that cannot be cleaned or repaired?
Any contents that are damaged beyond restoration are deemed non-restorable. These items are documented on a schedule of loss, which is provided to both you and your insurance adjuster. Once an item is confirmed as non-restorable, we require authorization from you and your adjuster before it can be disposed of.
Perishable goods, such as food items, are listed and disposed of immediately for health and safety reasons. Your insurance company will work with you directly on the replacement of non-restorable items, if applicable.
What if I need some of my belongings, like laundry, right away?
If you need access to certain belongings immediately, such as clothing or laundry items, we can process them at our facility with an expedited 24-hour turnaround. Please let your Project Manager know which items you require urgently — these will be tagged as rush and prioritized for cleaning.
If it is safe for you to enter your home, we may ask you to place rush laundry items on the beds for easy identification and processing.
How do I prioritize my belongings and decide what to take with me?
To make the process easier, we provide you with a detailed Take-Along List of items that should be packed and removed from your home. These typically include essentials such as passports, cash, medications, school textbooks, and jewelry.
Some items may require replacement (for example, prescriptions, which your pharmacist can refill) or specialized cleaning (such as jewelry) before they can be used again. While our team can assist in processing valuables like jewelry, we recommend removing them yourself first to ensure they are accounted for. We can then document, clean, and return them quickly for safe keeping or immediate use.
There are also items that cannot be packed or transported to our facility, referred to as the Non-Transportable List. Examples include live household plants, gasoline, food, and firearms. Your Project Manager will guide you on how to safely store or dispose of these items yourself.
What if I need to access something from storage during my claim?
You can request items from storage with 48 hours’ notice. To process your request, you’ll need to provide the box number from your contents inventory list.
We encourage you to review your in-storage list carefully and request any other items you may need at the same time — for example, if the season is changing and you’ll require winter clothing. Because our storage system is designed for long-term safekeeping, it takes time to carefully retrieve and reprocess items.
Please note: your insurance company may limit how many storage requests you can make as part of your claim. Your Project Manager can guide you on this process to ensure you get what you need while keeping your claim on track.
Why are there so many people working on my project?
Insurance restoration projects are often complex and require a team of specialized professionals to ensure your home or business is restored to the highest standards. Depending on the stage of your project, you may see:
- Project Managers overseeing your claim and guiding communication
- Project Coordinators managing scheduling, documentation, and client updates during the rebuild
- Site Supervisors coordinating on-site work
- Restoration Technicians handling water extraction, drying, and cleaning
- Carpenters and skilled trades completing reconstruction
- Subcontractors brought in for specialized services such as electrical, plumbing, or HVAC
While many people may be involved, your primary point of contact will change depending on the stage of your project:
- During the initial emergency response, you will work directly with your Project Manager.
- During the rebuild and reconstruction phase, your Project Coordinator will be your main contact, ensuring timelines, trades, and communication are managed smoothly.
How quickly will you respond if I contact you during my claim?
During your claim, your Project Manager and Project Coordinator are committed to clear and timely communication. We aim to return your calls and emails within one business day to keep you updated and ensure your questions are answered promptly.
What can I do if I need to escalate an issue or concern?
At Priority Restoration, our goal is to provide every client with a 10/10 customer experience. If you feel your concerns are not being addressed, you can escalate the issue directly to our Customer Service Manager by emailing customerservice@priorityrestoration.com or calling 204-786-3344.
Your feedback helps us improve, and we are committed to resolving issues quickly and fairly.