When a water disaster strikes, the immediate focus is usually on the visible damage: the soaked carpets, the warped baseboards, and the moisture seeping into the drywall. However, as the initial shock wears off and the industrial-grade drying equipment hums to life, a new concern often begins to gnaw at homeowners. You look at the large LGR dehumidifiers and the rows of high-velocity air movers running 24/7, and you can almost see your electric meter spinning like a top.
As a Restoration Project Manager, my job isn’t just to dry out your home; it is to manage every aspect of the project, including the financial impact. I am often asked, “Who is going to pay for all this electricity?” This is a valid concern. When calculating the total water damage restoration cost, many homeowners forget to account for the “hidden” utility spike. At our firm, we operate with a philosophy of transparent pricing and client advocacy, ensuring you aren’t left holding the bag for the power required to save your home.
To understand the impact on your utility bill, we have to look at the math. Professional restoration equipment is designed for performance, not necessarily energy star efficiency. We use industrial-grade tools because they move thousands of cubic feet of air and pull gallons of water out of the environment daily—tasks a standard household fan or portable dehumidifier simply cannot handle.
Typically, a standard drying setup for a flooded basement or a large living area might include one LGR (Low Grain Refrigerant) dehumidifier, several air movers (fans), and perhaps an air scrubber if mold or dust is a concern. These machines run 24 hours a day, usually for three to five days.
Here is a breakdown of the typical power consumption you can expect from professional-grade drying equipment:
| Equipment | Avg Watts | Cost/Day (Est) |
|---|---|---|
| LGR Dehumidifier | 800W | $2.50 |
| Air Mover | 300W | $0.90 |
| Air Scrubber | 200W | $0.60 |
On average, a standard drying “package” adds between $5 and $15 per day to your electric bill. While that might not seem like much initially, over a week-long drying and reconstruction period, it adds up. When you are already stressed about the water damage restoration cost, every extra dollar matters. If you are in the Texas area and want a deeper dive into regional pricing, you may want to check our guide on the cost of water damage restoration in Houston.
One of our core USPs is transparent pricing. We don’t want you to guess how much power our equipment used; we want to prove it. Modern restoration equipment often comes equipped with “hour meters.” These digital displays tell us exactly how many hours a machine was operational. As your project manager, I record these hours at the beginning and end of the drying cycle.
To calculate the “Excess Utility” charge, we use a simple formula:
(Total Watts of Equipment x Total Hours Run) / 1000 = Total Kilowatt Hours (kWh)
Once we have the total kWh, we multiply it by the current rate charged by your local utility provider. This allows us to generate a “Consumption Report.” This report is a crucial piece of documentation. Without it, your insurance company may see your higher-than-normal electric bill and dismiss it as a seasonal fluctuation. With it, we have an itemized, defensible record of exactly what the restoration process cost you in terms of power.
This level of detail is part of our commitment to client advocacy. We know that the restoration process is invasive and expensive. By providing you with a consumption report, we empower you to recoup those costs rather than absorbing them as an out-of-pocket expense.
So, who pays the bill? In the vast majority of covered insurance claims, the insurance company is responsible for “Excess Utilities.” This falls under the “Additional Living Expenses” (ALE) or “Loss of Use” portion of your policy, or sometimes directly under the dwelling coverage as a necessary cost of mitigation.
Insurance companies have a legal obligation to “make you whole.” This means they should return you to the financial position you were in before the loss occurred. If you normally pay $150 a month for electricity, and because of a pipe burst, your bill jumps to $250, that $100 difference is a direct result of the loss. It is part of the water damage restoration cost that the insurance company should cover.
However, insurance adjusters will rarely offer this reimbursement voluntarily. You must be proactive. Here is the process we recommend for our clients:
Our role as your advocate means we often speak directly with adjusters to explain these reports. We ensure they understand that the power wasn’t just “on”—it was a critical component of preventing further damage, such as mold growth or structural rot, which would have cost the insurance company significantly more in the long run.
Does insurance pay for electricity during drying?
Yes, typically under ‘Excess Utilities’ or ‘Mitigation Costs’. You must document the usage, including the types of machines used and the duration they were running, to provide evidence for the reimbursement claim.
At the end of the day, restoration is about more than just moving air and water. It’s about managing the entire process so that you can get back to your normal life without unnecessary financial strain. By tracking every kilowatt and advocating for your rights with the insurance company, we make sure the only thing you have to worry about is picking out your new flooring.
Ready to take control of your restoration claim?
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