Water damage in Huntington: the short answer
Close the main water valve or the fixture's shut-off, and if your home has a private well, switch off the well pump at its breaker if you can reach it safely. Keep clear of wet outlets, photograph the damage and get drying started within 24 to 48 hours, in line with the EPA's guidance. Call (413) 555-0147 to speak with a local restoration company that serves Huntington, or read about water damage restoration in Westfield and the hill towns.
On this page
Why water damage in Huntington has its own challenges
Huntington had 2,094 people at the 2020 Census and sits in southwestern Hampshire County, ZIP code 01050. The Westfield River runs through town, and its West Branch joins it at the village of Huntington in the south. U.S. Route 20 follows the lower river and the West Branch, about 12 miles southeast to Westfield and 23 miles northwest to Lee.
The Knightville Dam
After the 1936 flood on the Westfield and Connecticut rivers, the Army Corps of Engineers built the Knightville Dam in Huntington between 1939 and 1941. It's used only for flood control and doesn't normally hold a reservoir, and it's credited with averting hundreds of millions of dollars in damage downstream. Building it removed the old villages of Knightville and Indian Hollow in the north of town.
Living along the river
Homes near the river and its branches can take on water when heavy rain and snowmelt arrive together, and river flooding is a separate insurance question from a burst pipe. FEMA notes that homeowners policies typically don't cover flood, and most new flood policies take 30 days to start. Check your address on FEMA's flood maps.
Rural homes
If your home has a private well, the pressure tank and pump controls are often in the basement. If it's on septic, a backup into the house points to the tank or field. Either way, call the specialist and the cleanup company together.
Emergency water damage restoration in Huntington
When water is coming in, the crew stops the spread, maps moisture behind walls and under floors and starts extraction and drying the same day. Westfield is about 12 miles down U.S. 20, so call as soon as the water is off. See emergency water damage restoration.
Water removal and extraction in Huntington
Standing water in a basement or a soaked floor gets pumped and extracted first. In homes with plaster walls or wood floors, thorough extraction matters even more, because those materials hold water. See water removal and extraction.
Flooded basement cleanup in Huntington
River-valley basements can take on water when the ground is saturated by rain and snowmelt, and a well pump or pressure tank failure can flood a basement on a dry day. Make sure the power is safe before you go down. See flooded basement cleanup.
Mold remediation after water damage in Huntington
Damp basements and wall cavities that never fully dried after a leak are where mold starts. Fix the source, dry the space and call a professional for anything larger than about 10 square feet. See mold remediation after water damage.
Water damage repair in Huntington
Once everything reads dry, the rebuild begins. Use a registered Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor, get a written contract for work of $1,000 or more and ask about lead-safe practices if the home was built before 1978. See water damage repair.
More water damage services in Huntington
Other water damage calls we take from Huntington:
Burst and frozen pipe water damage in Huntington
When a cold snap splits a pipe, close the main valve and, on a private well, switch off the pump so it stops pushing water into the break. Then drain the lines from the lowest faucet. See burst pipe water damage.
Sewage backup cleanup in Huntington
If drains gurgle and then dirty water appears in the basement, assume it's sewage or septic effluent. Stop all water use, call a plumber or septic service and leave contaminated cleanup to a professional crew. See sewage backup cleanup.
Storm and flood damage cleanup in Huntington
Heavy rain and snowmelt raise the Westfield River and its branches, and the Knightville Dam exists because of past floods. Rising water is a flood-insurance matter; rain through storm damage usually isn't. See storm and flood damage cleanup.
Drying and leak repairs in Huntington
Structural drying and dehumidification
Stone and concrete foundations, plaster and older framing dry on their own schedule. Daily moisture readings tell the crew when the job is done. See structural drying.
Ceiling leaks and ice dams
Snow that lingers on hill-town roofs builds ice dams that leak into top-floor ceilings and exterior walls. See ceiling leaks and ice dams.
Where we take calls from in Huntington
- Huntington village
In the south of town, where the West Branch joins the Westfield River.
- Norwich and Norwich Bridge
The villages in the center of town.
- Along U.S. Route 20
The road that follows the river toward Westfield and Lee.
- The north of town
Around the Knightville Dam flood-control area.
Nearby areas
Huntington borders Montgomery, Russell and, briefly, Southampton. Downriver, we take calls from Westfield and nearby towns, and from Blandford and Granville in the hills.
Huntington water damage at a glance
- Population
- 2,094 (2020 Census)
- ZIP code
- 01050
- County
- Hampshire County
- Elevation
- About 381 feet
- Water features
- Westfield River and its West Branch; Knightville Dam (flood control)
- Common calls
- Basement water, frozen pipes, well and septic problems, ice dams
What to have ready when you call
- your address or nearest cross street, and the town
- what happened and where: which floor, which room, the basement or the ceiling
- whether the water is still running and whether you've shut it off
- roughly when it started and how large the wet area is
- whether the water is clean (a supply line), from a drain or toilet, or came in from outside
- whether you own or rent, and whether you plan to file an insurance claim
- whether your home is on a private well or septic system
Sources
- Huntington, Massachusetts (Wikipedia)
- Westfield River (Wikipedia: course, Knightville Dam, confluence at Agawam)
- FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (flood coverage, 30-day waiting period, coverage limits)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center (look up flood zones by address)
- EPA, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Chapter 4 (responding to water damage within 24–48 hours)
- Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor program (Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation)
Frequently asked questions
How do I find water damage restoration near me in Huntington?
Call the number on this page to be connected with a local water damage restoration company that serves Huntington and the hill towns west of Westfield, when one is available. While you wait, shut off the water, stay clear of electricity and take photos.
What is the Knightville Dam?
A flood-control dam in Huntington built by the Army Corps of Engineers from 1939 to 1941, after the 1936 flood. It doesn't normally hold a reservoir and is credited with averting hundreds of millions of dollars in downstream damage.
Is Huntington in Hampden County?
No. Huntington is in Hampshire County, though it borders Hampden County towns such as Montgomery and Russell.
Does homeowners insurance cover river flooding in Huntington?
Typically not. FEMA notes homeowners and renters policies don't typically cover flood, which needs a separate policy, and most new flood policies take 30 days to start.
How far is Huntington from Westfield?
About 12 miles by U.S. Route 20, which follows the Westfield River. Arrival times depend on the company's schedule.