About HearthDry
An independent emergency resource built for U.S. homeowners — not for contractors, not for insurers.
HearthDry exists because water damage is confusing, stressful, and expensive — and homeowners in crisis deserve clear, unbiased information about what to do, who to call, and what to expect.
Most online resources are either contractor directories (where ranking is bought, not earned) or insurance company content (with obvious bias). We built something different: an independent editorial resource where content is written and reviewed against IICRC industry standards — the same standards insurance companies and courts use to evaluate restoration work.
What We Are
- An independent educational resource for homeowners
- A 24/7 emergency connection to IICRC-certified restoration pros
- A free service — we never charge homeowners
- Transparent about how we earn revenue (referral fees from vetted pros)
- Content reviewed by restoration industry professionals
What We Are Not
- ✕Not a restoration contractor
- ✕Not a directory where contractor listings are paid
- ✕Not affiliated with any insurance company
- ✕Not a substitute for licensed professional advice
- ✕Not a government agency or FEMA affiliate
Our Editorial Standards
Industry Expert Review
All restoration and mold remediation content is reviewed by IICRC-certified Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) and Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT) before publication.
Primary Source Standards
We cite the IICRC S500 (water damage), IICRC S520 (mold remediation), EPA guidelines, and state insurance regulations as primary sources. We update content when standards change.
Independent Verification
Cost data is sourced from verified regional restoration estimates. We do not accept payment from contractors to influence rankings, recommendations, or content.
Transparent Disclosure
We disclose exactly how we earn revenue — pay-per-call referral fees from vetted IICRC-certified contractors. This is disclosed on every city and service page.
How We Evaluate Content
Every guide, review, and local resource on HearthDry follows a four-step review process. We publish only when a piece meets all four criteria.
Initial Research
Every guide begins with primary sources: IICRC S500/S520 standards, EPA mold guidelines, FEMA flood data, and state insurance codes. No content is published based on secondary sources alone.
Expert Technical Review
Marcus Reed reviews all equipment and restoration procedure content for technical accuracy against IICRC S500 field standards. Claims about drying times, moisture thresholds, and equipment performance are verified against real restoration data.
Independence Check
No affiliate relationship or contractor partnership influences editorial rankings or recommendations. Product rankings are based solely on performance data, IICRC compliance, and homeowner value.
Regular Review Cycle
All guides are reviewed at least annually, or immediately when IICRC standards update, when Amazon/Sylvane product availability changes, or when new state insurance regulations take effect.
Coverage & Standards We Reference
Our Mission
Help every U.S. homeowner facing water damage make the right decisions in the first 60 minutes — decisions that protect their family, their property, and their insurance claim.
We measure success by whether homeowners who use our guidance get better outcomes: faster restoration, less mold, stronger insurance claims, and protection from predatory contractors.
Marcus Reed
IICRC Certified WRTIICRC Certified AMRTLead Equipment Reviewer & Water Restoration Technician
Marcus Reed is an IICRC-certified Water Restoration Technician (WRT) and Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT) with 15 years of hands-on experience in residential and commercial water damage restoration across the United States. He has personally directed hundreds of water extraction, structural drying, and mold remediation projects following floods, burst pipes, and appliance failures.
All equipment reviews and restoration procedure guides published on HearthDry are written and evaluated by Marcus against IICRC S500 standards — the same standards used by insurance companies and restoration contractors to evaluate drying performance. His recommendations reflect real-world conditions: tight access, power-limited job sites, temperature extremes, and the time pressure that makes equipment reliability non-negotiable.
IICRC WRT
Water Restoration Technician
IICRC AMRT
Applied Microbial Remediation
15 Years
Restoration Experience
IICRC S500 & S520
Review Standards
Content last reviewed: June 2026 · Reviews follow the 4-step editorial process above