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
About HearthDry
- What is HearthDry?
- HearthDry is a referral service and editorial resource for U.S. homeowners dealing with water damage and mold, and the referral costs the homeowner nothing. It publishes guides, real cost data, insurance-claim help and equipment reviews, and runs a 24/7 phone line, (888) 840-6512, that connects a caller with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company covering their ZIP code.
- Is HearthDry a restoration contractor?
- No. HearthDry does not perform restoration work, does not send its own crews, and does not write estimates. It connects homeowners with independent, IICRC-certified restoration companies that do the work. HearthDry has one business address and no local branches.
- Does HearthDry charge homeowners?
- No. Calling (888) 840-6512 costs nothing and creates no obligation. The homeowner deals directly with the restoration company on scope and price.
- How does HearthDry make money?
- Restoration companies pay HearthDry a fee for qualified calls. HearthDry does not accept payment for rankings, does not sell contractor listings, and earns a small commission on some equipment links. This is disclosed on every page that carries an affiliate link.
- What happens when I call (888) 840-6512?
- The line is answered 24 hours a day. A short menu asks whether the problem is water damage or mold, then for your 5-digit ZIP code, and connects you to a restoration company that covers it — stay on the line while it connects. The company confirms an arrival window for your address on that call. HearthDry cannot quote an arrival time in advance, because it depends on where you are, the time of day and how many jobs are already running.
- Which areas does HearthDry cover?
- All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, with pages for 522 cities. Whether a restoration company is available for a particular ZIP code at a particular hour is decided on the call, not on the website.
- How are the restoration companies chosen?
- Every company HearthDry refers to is asked for current IICRC certification, state licensing where the state requires it, and liability insurance. Certificates can lapse between HearthDry's check and the job, so the homeowner is told to ask for the certification number and check it at iicrc.org before signing anything.