Carla Ruvalcaba
Carla Ruvalcaba writes every guide in the American Drying Institute library, covering water and fire damage causes, restoration, prevention and hiring.
Carla Ruvalcaba writes the guides published in the American Drying Institute library. Her byline appears on every article on the site, from the causes of burst pipes and sewage backups to the step-by-step fire damage restoration process and the questions to ask before hiring a restoration company.
What she writes about
Carla's guides are organised around the way a damage event unfolds. The first group explains what causes water and fire damage in homes and how to prevent it: plumbing issues, appliance malfunctions, weather-related damage, regular maintenance, fire safety measures and precautions during severe weather or natural disasters. The second group walks through the restoration process itself: assessment and inspection, water extraction and drying, cleaning and disinfecting, structural repairs, content restoration and reconstruction. The third group is about hiring: credentials and certifications, experience and expertise, response time, services offered, cost and insurance coverage.
How to read her guides
Each guide is written for a homeowner or renter rather than a contractor, in plain language, and is filed under a single sub-topic so related guides sit together. Guides describe general practice and common situations; they are not a substitute for an inspection of your own property by a qualified restoration professional, or for advice from your insurer.
Browse by hub
- Causes of water damage
- Water damage restoration process
- Preventing water damage
- Choosing a water damage company
- Emergency water damage services
- Fire damage restoration process
- Preventing fire damage
- Choosing a fire damage company
- Emergency fire damage services
To report a correction to any guide, use the contact page.