Home Service Frequently Asked Questions

What is UrgentHomePro?

UrgentHomePro is a home-services matching platform for urgent repairs. It takes a homeowner's problem, location and urgency and connects that request to independent service providers and partner provider networks that cover the category and area. It is not a contractor, a franchise or a repair company, and the people who arrive at a property are never UrgentHomePro employees. The site also publishes homeowner guidance so a decision can be made before anyone is called.

• About UrgentHomePro
• How the matching process works

How does UrgentHomePro work?

A homeowner describes the problem, the service category and the property ZIP code, either through the online request form or by calling the published phone line. That request is matched in real time against provider coverage for the category and location. When a provider or partner network is available, the call is connected or the request is passed on; when nothing is available for that combination, the homeowner is told rather than left waiting.

• Step-by-step matching process

Does UrgentHomePro perform the repairs?

No. UrgentHomePro performs no repairs, installations, inspections or restoration work of any kind. Every physical service is carried out by an independent provider or a provider inside a partner network. That provider sets its own pricing, scheduling, warranty terms, licensing and insurance, and holds the working relationship with the homeowner from the moment contact is made.

• Terms of service

Who performs the home service?

An independent local provider does. Depending on the category and the ZIP code, a request may reach a single provider directly or reach a partner network that dispatches to its own contracted providers. Homeowners should confirm licensing, insurance, pricing and warranty terms directly with whoever responds, in the same way they would with any contractor found through any other channel.

• Who responds to a request

How do I request help?

There are two paths. The online request form collects the service category, the problem, the property ZIP code and contact details, then hands the request to routing. The published phone line skips the form entirely and routes the caller through an automated menu that captures service type and location. For an active emergency the phone line is faster, because no typing is involved.

• Request help online
• Contact options

How quickly can I be connected with a provider?

Connection to a provider is usually attempted within the same call or shortly after a form submission, but no arrival time is guaranteed. How fast someone actually reaches a property depends on the category, the ZIP code, the hour, weather conditions and how many other urgent jobs are already in the queue. Storm periods in South Florida stretch response times across every trade at once.

Can I request emergency service?

Yes. Emergency urgency can be selected on the request form or spoken on the phone line, and it is passed through with the request so providers who take after-hours work see it. For anything life-threatening — fire, smoke, a suspected gas leak, a downed power line or rising flood water — call 911 or the relevant utility first. A matching platform is not an emergency-response agency.

• South Florida home emergency guide

What types of home services can I find through UrgentHomePro?

Eight categories are covered: plumbing, water damage restoration, HVAC, electrical, roofing, garage doors, locksmith work and pest control. Each category has its own hub with sub-services, emergency guidance and cost explanations. Requests outside those categories, such as appliance repair or general handyman work, can still be submitted, but coverage for them is far less predictable.

• All home service categories

Is provider availability guaranteed?

No. Availability is checked live for every request and is never promised in advance. A category can have strong coverage in one ZIP code and none in a neighboring one, and overnight or storm-period coverage is thinner than weekday coverage everywhere. If no provider is available for a request, that outcome is reported instead of a request being held open indefinitely.

Where is UrgentHomePro currently available?

Coverage is currently South Florida: Miami-Dade County, Broward County and Palm Beach County, including cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. Requests from outside those three counties can still be submitted, but there is no dependable provider coverage for them yet. Expansion to further Florida markets and then nationally is planned.

• South Florida service areas
• Locations directory

What counts as a home emergency?

A home emergency is any condition that is actively damaging the building, making it unsafe or making it unusable. Water spreading across floors or through ceilings, sewage inside living space, sparking or smoking electrical equipment, a roof letting rain in, a garage door that will not secure the house, a lockout and a total loss of air conditioning in extreme heat all qualify. Slow drips and cosmetic faults do not.

• Emergency action guide

Who should I call for an emergency home repair?

Call the trade that controls the source of the damage first, then the trade that repairs the consequences. A plumber stops a burst pipe; a restoration company dries what the water soaked. A roofer closes the roof; restoration handles the wet ceiling. An electrician handles faults inside the home; the utility handles the supply outside it. The routing table on this site maps each common emergency to the right professional.

• Who handles what

What should I do before a contractor arrives?

Make the situation safe and stop it getting worse. Shut the main water valve for a plumbing leak, switch off the breaker to a wet or sparking circuit, move people and pets away from the affected area, and lift or move belongings out of standing water if that can be done safely. Photograph the damage for insurance before cleaning up, and clear an access path to the work area.

• What to do immediately after water damage

When should I leave the home instead of attempting a repair?

Leave immediately and call 911 for fire, smoke, a gas smell, a hissing gas line, a downed power line touching the property, structural sagging or collapse, or flood water rising fast enough to trap occupants. Also leave if electrical equipment is arcing near standing water. Homeowner action ends where a hazard can injure or kill; nothing inside a house is worth handling in those conditions.

Can multiple professionals be needed for the same emergency?

Frequently, yes. A burst supply line typically needs a plumber for the pipe and a restoration crew for the soaked drywall, insulation and flooring. A storm roof leak needs a roofer and often restoration too. A sewage backup needs a plumber for the blockage and a sewage cleanup specialist for the contamination. Booking only the first trade often leaves hidden moisture or contamination behind.

• Water damage restoration

What information should I have ready when requesting service?

Have the property ZIP code, the service category, a short factual description of what is happening, when it started, whether water or power is currently shut off, the property type, and whether anyone on site has access to let a provider in. Photographs help once someone is on the phone. Accurate location and category information is what determines whether a matching provider exists at all.

How much do emergency home repairs cost?

Emergency repair cost is set entirely by the provider doing the work, and it varies with the trade, the severity, the hour and how much building material has been affected. A single blocked fixture sits at the low end; a burst supply line that soaked two rooms involves both a plumbing repair and a multi-day drying job. The cost guides on this site explain the drivers behind each category rather than quoting one number.

• Cost guides by service

Does UrgentHomePro set provider prices?

No. Pricing is set by each independent provider, and UrgentHomePro neither negotiates it, approves it nor takes a share of the repair invoice. Any dollar figures published on this site are third-party national estimates, clearly cited as such, and used to explain what drives a price. The only binding number is the one a provider gives after seeing the actual job.

Why does emergency service sometimes cost more?

After-hours, weekend and holiday work usually carries a premium because a provider is paying overtime, traveling outside normal routing and pulling a technician away from scheduled jobs. Emergency work also tends to involve diagnostics under bad conditions, temporary stabilization and parts sourced at short notice. During storm periods the whole regional market is stretched, which lengthens waits and reduces bargaining room.

• Emergency plumber cost factors

Can I get an exact price before a technician sees the problem?

Rarely, and any exact number offered sight-unseen should be treated with caution. Most urgent work involves hidden variables — what is behind the wall, how far water travelled, whether a part is obsolete, whether a permit is required. Reputable providers give a diagnostic or trip fee up front and a firm quote after inspection. Ask what the diagnostic fee covers and whether it is credited against the repair.

What factors affect repair cost?

The main drivers are severity and how much of the building is involved, the parts and equipment required, access difficulty, labour hours, whether permits and inspections apply, whether the work is emergency or scheduled, and whether a second trade is needed to finish the job. Restoration work adds equipment rental and drying days. Older properties add code-upgrade work that newer ones do not need.

Should I repair or replace a damaged system?

Repair usually wins when the equipment is well inside its expected service life, the fault is a single component and the repair cost is a modest share of replacement. Replacement usually wins when the unit is near end of life, failures are repeating, parts are obsolete, efficiency is poor or the repair approaches half the cost of new equipment. Category-specific comparisons are published on each service page.

• AC repair vs replacement

Who do I call for a burst pipe?

A plumber repairs the broken pipe or plumbing source. If water has spread into flooring, drywall, cabinetry or wall cavities, a water-damage restoration provider is usually needed as well for extraction, drying and mitigation. The plumber stops the water; the restoration crew prevents the secondary damage that appears days later as swollen material, stained ceilings or mold growth.

• Burst pipe repair
• Burst pipe: who to call

What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?

Water that cannot be stopped, water reaching electrical equipment, sewage entering living space, a total loss of water supply, or a leak actively soaking building materials all qualify as plumbing emergencies. A dripping tap, a slow drain at one fixture or a running toilet do not, even though they waste water and should still be fixed. The test is whether damage or a health hazard is accumulating right now.

• What qualifies as a plumbing emergency

What should I do if a pipe bursts?

Close the main water shut-off valve first, then switch off power to any circuit near the water at the breaker panel. Open a low tap to drain pressure from the system, move belongings clear, and photograph the damage before cleanup. Do not attempt a patch on a pressurized line. Once water has stopped, call a plumber, and call restoration if flooring, drywall or ceilings are wet.

• Burst pipe step-by-step

Who handles a sewer backup?

A plumber clears the blockage in the drain or sewer line and diagnoses the cause, which may be roots, grease, a collapsed section or a municipal main problem. Cleaning up what came out is a separate job: sewage carries pathogens, and porous materials it touched usually have to be removed rather than washed. That side of the work belongs to a sewage cleanup or restoration provider.

• Sewer backup service
• Sewage cleanup

Do I need a plumber or a water-damage company?

Call a plumber when the problem is the plumbing itself — a broken pipe, a blockage, a failed water heater, a leaking supply line. Call a water-damage company when the problem is what the water did — soaked carpet, wet drywall, standing water, a saturated subfloor. Most significant indoor water events need both, in that order, because drying before the source is fixed simply repeats itself.

• Emergency water removal

When does a clogged drain require professional help?

Call a plumber when several fixtures back up at once, when a toilet and a shower are affected together, when water returns after plunging, when the blockage recurs within weeks, or when sewage odour is present. Those patterns point at the main line rather than a single trap. A single slow sink with no other symptoms is usually a local clog and far less urgent.

• Drain cleaning

How quickly should water damage be dried?

Extraction should start as soon as the water source is stopped, and the EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold growth. That window is a guideline, not a guarantee: in South Florida's humidity, saturated carpet, insulation and wall cavities frequently need several days of controlled drying with equipment, and completion should be judged by moisture readings rather than by the clock.

• How fast water damage should be dried

Who should I call for water in my house?

Call the trade that controls the source first — a plumber for a supply or drain failure, a roofer for rain entering through the roof, an appliance technician for a failed washer or water heater connection. Then call a water-damage restoration provider for extraction and drying if water reached flooring, walls, cabinetry or insulation rather than sitting on a hard, sealed surface.

• Emergency water removal

What is the difference between water extraction and water mitigation?

Extraction is the physical removal of standing water using pumps and truck-mounted or portable units. Mitigation is the broader process that follows: removing unsalvageable materials, setting air movers and dehumidifiers, monitoring moisture in structural cavities and documenting the readings until the building is dry. Extraction alone leaves absorbed moisture behind, which is what later produces odour, warping and mold.

• Water extraction
• Structural drying

Do I need a plumber or restoration company?

A plumber fixes the plumbing fault; a restoration company repairs the damage the water caused. If the pipe is still leaking, the plumber comes first. If the leak is already stopped but materials are wet, restoration is the call. When a burst line has flooded rooms, both are needed, and the restoration crew's drying plan depends on the plumbing repair being complete.

Is sewage backup dangerous?

Yes. Raw sewage carries bacteria, viruses and parasites, and the EPA treats sanitary sewer overflows as a health hazard. People and pets should stay out of the affected area, and porous items the sewage contacted — carpet, pad, drywall, upholstery — usually cannot be disinfected reliably and are removed. Cleanup involves protective equipment, extraction, controlled demolition, sanitizing and verified drying.

• Sewage cleanup

What should I do after indoor flooding?

Stop the source if it is safe to do so, cut power to affected circuits at the panel, and keep people out of standing water that may be contaminated or energized. Photograph everything before moving it, lift what can be salvaged, and open the property to airflow only if outdoor humidity is lower than indoor. Then call for extraction; delay is what turns a cleanup into a rebuild.

• Flood cleanup

Can water damage lead to mold?

Yes. The EPA notes that mold can begin growing on damp materials within roughly 24 to 48 hours, and warm humid conditions shorten that further. Risk concentrates where moisture is hidden: inside wall cavities, under flooring, behind cabinets and in insulation. Surface drying that leaves those areas wet is the usual reason mold appears weeks after an event that looked resolved.

• Moisture mapping

When does an AC problem need an electrician rather than an HVAC technician?

Call an electrician when the breaker for the air handler or condenser trips repeatedly after the HVAC system itself has been checked, when the disconnect box or wiring at the outdoor unit is scorched or corroded, or when lights dim hard every time the compressor starts. HVAC technicians work on the equipment; the branch circuit, disconnect and panel feeding it are electrical work.

• Electrical panel repair

What should I do if my AC stops working?

Check the thermostat mode and batteries, confirm the breaker for the air handler and condenser has not tripped, check that the filter is not completely blocked and make sure the outdoor unit is clear and the disconnect is on. If the system still will not run, or it runs without cooling, call an HVAC technician. Refrigerant, capacitors and control boards are not homeowner-serviceable.

• AC repair

Is no air conditioning an emergency in South Florida?

It can be. In sustained South Florida heat and humidity, a failed system becomes a health risk for infants, elderly residents, pregnant people and anyone with a cardiac or respiratory condition, and indoor humidity climbs fast enough to threaten furnishings and finishes. Loss of cooling in those circumstances is treated as an emergency; a mild-weather failure in a healthy household usually is not.

• Emergency HVAC service

Should I repair or replace my AC?

Repair generally makes sense for a system under roughly ten years old with an isolated component failure and a repair cost well below replacement. Replacement becomes the better economics when the unit is at or past its expected life, when failures repeat within a season, when the compressor fails, when the refrigerant type is being phased out, or when energy bills have climbed steadily against the same usage.

• AC replacement cost factors

Why is my AC leaking water?

The most common cause is a blocked condensate drain line, which is very frequent in humid climates because algae and biofilm build up inside it. Other causes include a full or cracked drain pan, a dirty filter causing the evaporator coil to freeze and then thaw, a failed condensate pump, or a low refrigerant charge. Shut the system off to stop further water and have it inspected.

• Why an AC stops cooling

What should I check before calling an HVAC professional?

Check the thermostat setting and power, the breakers for both indoor and outdoor units, the air filter, the outdoor disconnect switch, and whether the condensate safety switch has cut the system off because the drain is blocked. Also note what the system is actually doing — no power, running without cooling, short cycling, icing or leaking — because that description shortens diagnosis considerably.

• HVAC maintenance

When is an electrical problem an emergency?

Treat it as an emergency when there is a burning smell, smoke, visible arcing or sparking, scorch marks on outlets or switches, hot faceplates, buzzing from a panel, a shock from an appliance or fixture, or water in contact with electrical equipment. Those are ignition and electrocution risks. Repeated breaker trips and flickering across multiple rooms are urgent but not immediately dangerous in the same way.

• Emergency electrician

Who do I call for a power outage?

Call the electric utility if the outage covers the street or neighborhood, if a line is down, or if the loss of power arrived with a storm. Call a licensed electrician if only one property is dark while neighbors have power, if part of the home lost power, or if the main breaker keeps tripping. Never approach a downed line; report it and stay well clear.

Do I call an electrician or the utility company?

The utility owns the supply up to the service point — the lines, transformers and, in most cases, the meter. An electrician owns everything from the service equipment inward: the panel, breakers, circuits, outlets and fixtures. Neighborhood-wide loss, a downed conductor or damage to the drop is a utility call. A fault confined to one property is an electrician call.

What should I do if I smell burning near an outlet?

Stop using the circuit, unplug what you safely can without touching a hot or damaged faceplate, and switch off the breaker feeding that area. If there is smoke, visible flame or a spreading burning smell, leave the property and call 911. Once power is off, have a licensed electrician inspect the outlet and the circuit; a burning smell usually means overheating conductors or a failing connection.

• Outlet repair

What should I do if an outlet sparks?

A brief spark as a plug is inserted can be normal; a sustained arc, repeated sparking, a blackened faceplate or heat is not. Cut power to the circuit at the breaker, stop using the outlet and call a licensed electrician. Do not remove the faceplate or attempt to reseat wiring. Persistent arcing is a recognized fire cause, which is why arc-fault protection is required in modern circuits.

• Sparking outlet guidance

When should I stop using the electrical system and leave the area?

Leave and call 911 if there is smoke, flame, a persistent burning smell you cannot locate, arcing at the panel, or standing water in contact with energized equipment. Leave the panel alone in all of these cases — opening a panel cover exposes live busbars that remain energized even with the main breaker off. Electrical panels are strictly licensed-electrician territory.

Do I need a roofer or a water damage company after a leak?

Both, usually in that order. The roofer stops water entering and makes the covering sound; the restoration provider dries the structure, insulation and interior finishes that already got wet. Drying matters on its own timeline — wet building materials in a humid climate can begin growing mold within a couple of days even after the leak itself is fixed.

• Structural drying

Is a leaking roof an emergency?

A roof leak is an emergency when water is actively entering the building, when it is running near light fixtures or electrical wiring, when a ceiling is bulging or sagging, or when storm damage has left an opening exposed to more rain. A faint stain that has not changed in months is not urgent, but it still signals a defect that will worsen through a rainy season.

• Roof leak repair

Who should I call for storm roof damage?

Call a licensed roofing contractor for assessment and emergency stabilization, and a restoration provider if water has already reached ceilings, insulation or interior walls. Document the damage with photographs before any temporary work and notify the property insurer early. Avoid climbing onto a storm-damaged roof; wet, lifted or structurally compromised roofing is a serious fall risk.

• Storm damage roofing

What is emergency roof tarping?

Tarping is a temporary measure in which a roofer fastens heavy waterproof sheeting over damaged roofing to keep rain out until a permanent repair can be scheduled. It is common after hurricanes and severe storms, when demand for permanent repairs far exceeds capacity. Tarping protects the interior and limits further loss, but it is a holding action with a limited service life, not a repair.

• Emergency roof repair

Should I repair or replace a damaged roof?

Localized damage on a roof with substantial remaining life is normally repaired. Replacement becomes the sensible option when damage is widespread, when leaks keep appearing in new places, when the covering is near the end of its expected life, when the decking beneath is compromised, or when repeated repairs are approaching the cost of a new roof. An insurance claim can change that calculation.

• Roof replacement

What should I do if water is entering through the roof during a storm?

Move people, electronics and furnishings away from the area, place containers to catch water, and cut power to any circuit near where water is running. If a ceiling is bulging, a small relief hole made from a safe position can prevent a larger collapse — but only if it can be done without standing under a sagging area. Stay off the roof entirely until the storm passes.

What should I not do with a garage door fault?

Do not adjust or release torsion springs or lift cables, do not force a door that is off track, do not disable the photo-eye safety sensors to make a door close, and do not park under or walk beneath a door that is hanging unevenly. Those four are the causes of most serious garage door injuries, and all four are technician work.

• Emergency garage door repair

When is a garage door problem an emergency?

It is an emergency when the door is stuck open and the house cannot be secured, when the door has come off its tracks, when a panel or the door is hanging and could fall, when a vehicle is trapped and needed, or when storm damage has compromised the door in an attached garage. A noisy opener or a slow-moving door is a service call, not an emergency.

• Emergency garage door repair

Should I repair or replace my garage door?

Individual components — springs, rollers, cables, openers, single panels — are usually replaced without touching the rest of the door. Full replacement makes sense when several panels are damaged, when the door is bent or twisted, when the section is obsolete, when corrosion is widespread, or when a coastal property needs a wind-rated door that meets current code requirements.

• Garage door repair

Can I open a garage door with a broken spring?

It should not be attempted. Torsion and extension springs carry the door's weight, and with one broken the door can weigh well over a hundred pounds and can fall suddenly. Springs themselves store enough energy to cause severe injury if released without the correct winding bars and technique. Leave the door where it is, keep people and vehicles clear, and call a technician.

• Garage door spring repair

What should I expect a locksmith to ask before opening a door?

Expect to be asked for photo identification and something linking you to the address — a lease, a utility bill, a mortgage statement or a vehicle registration for a car lockout. A locksmith who does not ask is a warning sign, not a convenience. Ask for the price before work starts, and confirm whether the quote covers a non-destructive opening or lock replacement.

• Emergency locksmith

Can a storm or break-in damage make a lock unusable?

Yes. Wind-driven rain and coastal salt air corrode cylinders and latches, a warped or swollen door can bind a bolt so it no longer throws, and a forced door often bends the strike, frame or bolt even when the lock still turns. After either event the priority is securing the opening — sometimes with temporary hardware — and then replacing anything that was forced or corroded.

• Lock replacement

Who should I call if I am locked out?

Call a locksmith for a residential lockout; most carry non-destructive entry tools and can open standard residential locks without replacing the hardware. Call 911 instead if a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is locked inside, particularly in a hot vehicle or a home without cooling. Be ready to show identification and proof that you have the right to enter the property.

• House lockout service

When should I rekey versus replace a lock?

Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys stop working while the existing hardware stays in place; it suits a house move, a lost key, a departing tenant or a former contractor still holding a copy. Replacement is needed when the lock is damaged, worn, of poor quality, incompatible with rekeying, or when an upgrade to a higher security grade or a smart lock is wanted.

• Lock rekeying

Can a locksmith help with a car lockout?

Many locksmiths handle vehicle lockouts and some also cut and program transponder keys and fobs, though capability varies by make, model and year. Newer vehicles with proximity systems may require dealer-level programming. If a person or animal is shut inside a vehicle, call 911 first — in Florida heat, interior temperatures reach dangerous levels within minutes.

• Car lockout service

What should I do if my home keys are lost or stolen?

Rekey or replace the exterior locks promptly, especially if the keys were attached to anything identifying the address. Stolen keys are a security matter, not a maintenance one, and a report may be needed for insurance. Also consider any garage side door, gate, shed or mailbox that shared the key, and reprogram garage remotes that were taken with them.

• Lock replacement

Why do pest problems increase after a storm in South Florida?

Flooding drives rodents and insects out of soil, sewers and landscaping and toward dry structures, standing water left behind breeds mosquitoes within about a week, and storm damage opens gaps in the building envelope — lifted soffits, damaged screens, broken vents — that give pests a way in. Sealing openings after a storm is as much a pest measure as a weather one.

• Post-storm pest problems

What should I do before a pest control treatment?

Ask what preparation the specific treatment requires, because it varies: bed bug and cockroach work usually needs laundering, decluttering and access to walls, while exterior perimeter work may need little. Tell the provider about children, pregnancy, pets, fish tanks and allergies before treatment, and ask for the product labels and re-entry times in writing.

• Termite control

When should I call a professional exterminator?

Call a professional when an infestation is established rather than occasional: repeated sightings, droppings, nests, gnawed wiring or packaging, termite swarms or mud tubes, bed bug bites and staining, or stinging insect nests near an entrance. Also call when structural pests such as termites are suspected, because the damage accumulates out of sight and identification determines the correct treatment.

• Termite control

Is DIY pest control enough?

Retail products can manage small, correctly identified problems such as a few ants along one trail. They tend to fall short with termites, rodents entering through structural gaps, bed bugs and wasp nests, where partial treatment scatters the population or leaves the entry point open. Professional work adds identification, targeted products, exclusion of entry points and follow-up inspection.

• Rodent control

What is the difference between one-time treatment and ongoing pest control?

A one-time treatment targets a specific active problem and ends when it is resolved. Ongoing service is a scheduled program of inspections and preventive treatments around the structure, usually quarterly or bi-monthly. In subtropical climates where pest pressure never really stops, ongoing service is generally about keeping populations from re-establishing rather than reacting after they have.

Which pests are common concerns in South Florida?

Subtropical conditions favor year-round activity from subterranean and drywood termites, American and German cockroaches, ants including white-footed and ghost ants, rodents, mosquitoes, and stinging insects. Heavy rain and standing water increase mosquito breeding, and storm damage that opens the building envelope frequently produces rodent and insect entry in the weeks that follow.

• Mosquito control

Which South Florida areas are covered?

Coverage runs across the three-county South Florida market: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. City hubs are published for Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach. Availability inside any of those areas is still confirmed per request rather than assumed from the coverage map.

• Broward County
• Miami-Dade County
• Palm Beach County

Do South Florida conditions change what goes wrong in a home?

They do. Year-round heat and humidity push air conditioning systems and condensate drains hard, salt air accelerates corrosion on coastal hardware, heavy seasonal rain finds roof and envelope weaknesses quickly, high water tables complicate drainage and slab leaks, and hurricane season concentrates roof, garage door and water intrusion emergencies into a short window each year.

• South Florida home emergency guide

What happens if I request service outside South Florida?

The request can still be submitted, but there is no reliable provider coverage outside Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties yet, so a match may not be found. Expansion to additional Florida markets and then to other states is planned, and new areas are only marked as covered once real provider coverage exists for them rather than when a page is written.

When should I call 911 instead of a contractor?

Call 911 for fire or smoke, a gas smell or hissing gas line, a downed power line, electrocution risk, structural collapse, injury, or flood water rising fast enough to trap occupants. Emergency services and utilities handle immediate danger; trades handle the repair afterwards. A matching platform is neither, and no repair is worth delaying an emergency call for.

Where is the main water shut-off in a Florida home?

In most South Florida homes on a slab, the main shut-off is either at the meter box near the street or property line, or on an exterior wall near where the supply enters — often close to the hose bib or the water heater. Locate and test it before an emergency, and keep a meter key nearby if the valve is inside a below-grade box.

• Shutting off water in an emergency

Is standing water in a home dangerous?

It can be. Standing water may be energized if it contacts outlets, cords or appliances, and water from a sewer backup or outdoor flooding may be contaminated. Cut power to affected circuits before entering, wear waterproof footwear, keep children and pets out, and do not assume clear water is clean water. Contaminated categories require professional cleanup rather than mopping.

What should I never attempt myself?

Do not open an electrical panel, work on energized circuits, wind or release garage door springs, climb a storm-damaged roof, enter sewage-contaminated areas without protective equipment, repair a pressurized gas or water line, or run a generator indoors or in a garage. Each of these causes serious injuries every year and each is squarely licensed-professional or emergency-service territory.