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Refrigerator Supply Line Floods Brand-New Conway Home Before the Family Could Move In
August 4, 2026
Water Damage Restoration Case Study | Conway, SC
Just days after purchasing their brand-new home in Conway, a local family experienced an unexpected disaster before they had even finished moving in. A refrigerator supply line failed, allowing water to spread throughout approximately 9% of the home's 1,800 square feet before anyone discovered the leak. Water affected multiple bedrooms, the kitchen, flooring, cabinetry, and baseboards. The homeowners contacted Restoration 1 of Horry County for emergency water damage restoration. Our IICRC-certified mitigation team arrived in less than one hour—the same response time as another restoration company they had called. While response time mattered, it wasn't what earned the job. The homeowners told us they felt more comfortable with our team because we took the time to explain not only how we would dry the home, but also how the insurance claim would work and what they should expect over the coming days.
Helping the Homeowner Navigate the Insurance Claim
Like many homeowners dealing with water damage for the first time, their first question was, "Can you give us an estimate before you start?" It's a completely reasonable question. We explained that emergency water mitigation is different from a typical home improvement project. When water is actively damaging a home, the priority is stopping additional damage as quickly as possible. Waiting too long can increase structural damage, extend drying time, and create conditions where mold can begin to grow. We helped the homeowners begin the insurance claim, met with the insurance adjuster onsite, and reviewed the approved mitigation scope of work so the project could move forward without unnecessary delays. Throughout the project, we remained in communication with both the homeowners and the insurance company to help keep the claim moving efficiently.
Emergency Water Damage Mitigation
Once the approved scope of work was established, our team immediately began emergency water mitigation. The project included:
- Water extraction from three carpeted bedrooms
- Removal of water-damaged luxury vinyl plank flooring
- Careful removal of lower kitchen cabinets while preserving the original cabinet faces
- Removal of affected baseboards
- Commercial structural drying using professional air movers and dehumidifiers
- Daily moisture mapping and moisture monitoring to verify that all affected materials were drying properly
Every day, our technicians documented moisture readings to ensure the home met IICRC drying standards before any equipment was removed.
A Small Decision That Saved Thousands
One of the biggest opportunities to help the homeowner wasn't during the drying process—it was while removing the damaged kitchen cabinets. Instead of tearing out the entire cabinet system, our technicians carefully removed only the damaged lower cabinet boxes while preserving the original cabinet faces. Why does that matter? When reconstruction begins, those original cabinet faces can be reinstalled onto new cabinet boxes. That means the repaired kitchen will continue to match the existing cabinets instead of requiring a complete cabinet replacement simply because matching finishes are no longer available. It's a detail many homeowners never think about, but decisions like this can save thousands of dollars during reconstruction.
The Result
Using commercial drying equipment, moisture meters, and daily monitoring, Restoration 1 of Horry County successfully dried the affected areas in just four days. Because emergency water mitigation began quickly, the homeowners avoided secondary damage such as mold growth and were able to move on to the reconstruction phase much sooner.
Even Brand-New Homes Can Experience Water Damage
Many people assume water damage only happens in older homes, but that's simply not true. Refrigerator supply lines, washing machine hoses, dishwasher connections, and plumbing fittings can fail in homes that are only days old. The most important factors after discovering water damage are:
- Responding quickly to prevent additional damage.
- Hiring an experienced water damage restoration company that understands both structural drying and the insurance claims process.
A fast response and proper documentation can make a significant difference in protecting your home and helping your insurance claim move forward smoothly.
Need Water Damage Restoration in Conway or Myrtle Beach?
If your home has experienced water damage from a burst pipe, appliance leak, overflowing fixture, or flooding, Restoration 1 of Horry County provides 24/7 emergency water damage restoration, water extraction, structural drying, flood cleanup, sewage cleanup, and mold remediation throughout Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, and the surrounding Horry County area. Since 2016, we've helped homeowners restore their properties after unexpected water damage. We're proud to maintain a 4.9-star Google rating with more than 200 reviews, an A+ BBB rating, and have been voted Readers' Choice Best Fire & Water Restoration Company multiple years. If you need emergency water damage restoration, call 843-350-0231 anytime. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we're ready to help when you need us most.