Disaster Recovery & Restoration,
Services in Lombard, IL

Water damage, fire and mold restoration in Lombard, IL

ServiceMaster Restoration Services offers 24/7 water damage restoration, fire and smoke cleanup, mold remediation, biohazard cleanup and cleaning across Lombard. The local fact to know first: the Village of Lombard says its separated storm sewers are designed for about 5.15 inches of rain in 24 hours, so bigger storms can still cause backups.

Flood or sewer backup: which one hit your Lombard home?

Lombard deals with water from two directions, and the difference matters for both cleanup and insurance.

Water from outside: the East Branch and overland flooding

DuPage County Stormwater Management lists Lombard among the communities the East Branch DuPage River flows through on its 24-mile course from Bloomingdale toward Naperville, as described on the county's flood control facilities page. The village's own drainage and flooding reminders recall the April 18, 2013 storm, when flooding occurred both inside and outside designated floodplain areas. The National Weather Service Chicago office documented that event as record flooding: downstream at Bolingbrook, the East Branch crested at a preliminary 25.85 feet, above its September 2008 record of 24.04 feet. Spring is a higher-risk season, the village explains, because frozen ground and snowmelt combined with heavy rain increase runoff.

Water from below: combined sewers and surcharged lines

Some parts of Lombard still have older combined sanitary and storm sewers that were not built to current standards, and the village notes that sanitary backups may happen more often there. Public Works maintains 151 miles of sanitary sewer and 123 miles of storm sewer, according to its sewer maintenance page, along with roughly 350 detention facilities across the village, most of them privately owned.

The insurance consequences differ. The village points out that sewer backup insurance is not the same as flood insurance, and that roughly 25% of flood insurance claims come from outside designated floodplains. The Illinois Department of Insurance adds that flood coverage typically takes effect 30 days after purchase, so it has to be in place well before storm season.

Split-levels and lower-level family rooms

Homes from the 1960s and 1970s often put a family room, laundry or bedroom half a level below grade. Because that lower level holds the floor drains and sits nearest the sewer connection, it is usually the first finished space affected when water backs up or seeps in.

First-hour checklist after a storm floods a Lombard house

1. Check that it is safe to go in. Ready.gov advises against touching electrical equipment that is wet or standing in water to reach it; leave the breaker for a dry moment or a professional.
2. Figure out where the water came from. Water rising from a floor drain or toilet points to the sewer; water entering at a window well, wall or door points to overland flow or seepage.
3. Report a sewer backup to Public Works. The village asks residents to call Public Works directly about a backup; after hours, calls go to the police non-emergency line.
4. Take date-stamped photos. The village notes that date-stamped photos can help support eligibility for its Residential Drainage Program, and they help an insurance claim too.
5. Keep contaminated water off your skin. Wear boots and gloves, keep kids and pets away, and hold off on household fans in sewage-affected rooms.
6. Get drying started. EPA's guidance is to dry wet materials within 24–48 hours, which is hard to do without commercial air movers and dehumidifiers.

Cleaning up after a backup

Sewer water changes the job. It can carry bacteria and debris, so cleanup focuses on removing soaked materials that can't be reliably disinfected and then cleaning and disinfecting everything that stays. EPA recommends calling a professional with experience in buildings damaged by contaminated water.

When were Lombard's homes built?

Lombard's housing grew steadily for three decades. ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates put 53.7% of the village's 18,467 housing units in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s combined, with 66.3% built before 1980 and a median year built of 1971. About 55% are single-family detached homes; the rest are townhomes, multi-unit buildings and other housing types.

Homes of that age call for care when damaged materials come out. EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires paid contractors who disturb paint in homes built before 1978 to be certified in lead-safe work practices. EPA's asbestos guidance is equally relevant to mid-century flooring, ceiling texture and pipe insulation: don't disturb suspect material until an accredited professional has sampled it.

Village help for chronic backups and standing water

Lombard offers an Overhead Sewer Grant for homeowners with chronic sanitary sewer backups: the homeowner pays the first 25% of the installation cost and the village covers a capped share after that. Its Residential Drainage Program offers potential grant help where flooding stands for 72 hours or longer and affects at least two neighboring properties.

Storm damage from above

Ready.gov notes that thunderstorms can bring intense wind, flash flooding and hail along with rain. A damaged roof or a limb through the shingles lets water into attics and ceilings, and roof tarping and structural stabilization limits further damage until permanent repairs are made.

Lombard restoration services

Water. Lombard water damage restoration handles extraction, drying and dehumidification after backups, seepage and plumbing failures. Our water damage restoration hub covers the process in depth.

Fire. For smoke, soot and fire-suppression water, see fire damage restoration in Lombard.

Mold. When moisture has lingered, mold remediation for Lombard homes uses containment and HEPA filtration to remove growth safely.

Biohazard. Biohazard cleanup in Lombard covers trauma scenes, unattended deaths and other hazardous situations, handled with discretion.

Cleaning. Cleaning services in Lombard range from post-restoration cleanup to deep cleaning for homes and offices.

Unsure what your policy covers? Our guide to homeowners insurance and water damage in Illinois explains common exclusions, and our team works with your insurer through insurance claim assistance. We also serve nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn and Downers Grove.

Storm water in the house tonight? Call (630) 241-1111, day or night, or use our online contact form.