Need water, fire, or mold damage help in Navy Yard? ServiceMaster National Capital Restoration serves the Capitol Riverfront 24/7 with water extraction, structural drying, smoke and soot cleanup, mold remediation, and reconstruction for apartments, condos, offices, restaurants, hotels, and retail spaces between South Capitol Street and the Anacostia River.

Contact ServiceMaster NCR anytime for emergency restoration help.

The Capitol Riverfront covers roughly 500 acres, according to the neighborhood's Business Improvement District. It runs from the freeway on the north to the Anacostia River on the south, and from South Capitol Street east to 15th Street SE. It is home to the Washington Navy Yard, the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters, Nationals Park, Yards Park, and Canal Park.

Most of what stands here today is new. The BID was approved in 2007, and by 2017 its business plan counted about 5,200 residential units with 1,900 more under construction, along with 6.2 million square feet of office space and four hotels.

What kinds of water damage happen in newer Navy Yard buildings?

New buildings leak too, and when they do, the water has many floors to travel. These are common situations in mid-rise and high-rise properties:

• Supply line failures at dishwashers, washers, toilets, and ice makers
• Fire sprinkler discharge from a damaged head or a pipe break
• HVAC condensate leaks inside unit closets and risers
• Rooftop amenity decks, pools, and planter drains that back up
• Window wall and balcony door leaks in wind-driven rain
• Kitchen and restroom leaks in ground-floor restaurants and shops
• Water entering below-grade garages and mechanical rooms

Water from one apartment can reach several units below before anyone traces it back. Our crews map the moisture on every affected floor, extract standing water, set drying equipment, and monitor readings until the structure is dry.

What to do first

• Shut off the water at the fixture if you can.
• Call your concierge, building engineer, or property manager so the riser can be isolated.
• Keep away from wet outlets, light fixtures, and ceilings that are bowing.
• Lift electronics, rugs, and small furniture out of the water.
• Call us to start extraction and drying.

Is flooding a concern this close to the Anacostia?

It is something to plan for. The National Capital Planning Commission notes that the region is vulnerable to three types of flooding:

Riverine flooding can occur when rivers rise after heavy rain upstream, affecting riverside paths, lower plazas, and ground floors nearest the water. Coastal flooding can come from tidal conditions or storm surge moving through the Potomac and Anacostia, creating problems for waterfront properties and low-lying drainage systems. Interior flooding can happen when heavy rain exceeds drainage capacity, sending water toward garage ramps, loading docks, lobbies, and street-level retail spaces.

In the District, development in the floodplain is regulated by the Department of Energy and Environment. For a building owner or manager, the practical point is that the lowest levels hold the most critical equipment. Electrical rooms, elevator pits, pumps, and storage are often in the garage levels, which is where stormwater goes first.

Floodwater and storm runoff are treated as contaminated. We remove the water, take out porous materials that absorbed it, clean and sanitize, and then dry the structure.

How do you restore fire and smoke damage in an apartment or restaurant?

A cooking fire in one apartment can send smoke down the corridor and into neighboring units, and it often sets off sprinklers that soak the floors below. A restaurant kitchen fire leaves greasy residue that travels through the dining room and into exhaust and ventilation paths.

Our fire and smoke damage restoration can include securing the space, extracting sprinkler and firefighting water, drying, soot and residue cleaning, odor treatment, air filtration, contents cleaning and pack-out, and reconstruction. Kitchen exhaust and fire suppression equipment may need their own licensed specialists, and we coordinate our work with theirs.

Why would a new building have a mold problem?

Because mold depends on moisture, and age has little to do with it. Tightly sealed buildings hold humidity, and a small leak inside a wall can stay hidden for a long time. We commonly find growth in these places:

• HVAC closets and around condensate pans
• Behind kitchen and bathroom cabinets
• Under flooring after a past leak
• Along exterior walls and window systems
• In vacant units and unleased commercial space
• In garage-level storage rooms

Our mold remediation process can include identifying the moisture source, containment, HEPA air filtration, removal of affected porous materials, detailed cleaning, and repairs.

Do you work with property managers and commercial tenants?

Yes. We coordinate with property managers, building engineers, condo boards, and tenant representatives on access, elevator and loading dock use, equipment placement, quiet hours, and resident notices.

Our commercial restoration services cover offices, hotels, restaurants, retail, and multifamily communities. Game days and events near Nationals Park and Audi Field can limit street access and parking, so we plan crew and equipment arrivals around them when a project runs for several days.

What are the steps from emergency to repair?

1. You call. We get the building, the source, and the floors involved.
2. We inspect the source and every space the water or smoke may have reached.
3. We stabilize: extraction, containment, and protection of contents.
4. We dry, clean, deodorize, or remediate, and track progress with readings.
5. We remove what cannot be restored.
6. We rebuild walls, ceilings, flooring, and finishes.

Construction permits in the District are issued by the DC Department of Buildings. If the repairs call for one, we address it in the repair plan.

What areas of Navy Yard and the Capitol Riverfront do you serve?

We serve the whole neighborhood and ZIP code 20003, including:

• The Yards and the blocks around Yards Park
• Half Street SE and the Ballpark District near Nationals Park
• M Street SE, New Jersey Avenue SE, and 1st Street SE
• Canal Park, Diamond Teague Park, and Virginia Avenue Park
• Properties near the Washington Navy Yard and the U.S. Department of Transportation
• Nearby Buzzard Point, Southwest Waterfront, and Capitol Hill

We also serve properties throughout Washington, DC.

Frequently asked questions

I rent my apartment. Should I call you or my building?

Call your building first. Management needs to stop the source and usually arranges repairs to the structure. You can call us about your own belongings, or ask management to bring us in. Either way, report the damage quickly so it does not spread.

Can you work in an occupied high-rise without disrupting everyone?

We plan for that. We coordinate elevator use, protect common-area floors, contain the work area, and schedule noisy work with building management.

Our garage flooded during a storm. What needs to happen?

The water needs to be removed, and the affected surfaces cleaned and sanitized. Electrical and mechanical equipment that got wet should be checked by qualified technicians before it is used again. We handle the extraction, cleaning, and drying, and coordinate with the building's engineer.

Does insurance cover water from a neighbor's unit?

That depends on the policies involved and what caused the leak. Your insurer or agent can tell you how your coverage applies. We document the damage in your space so you have a clear record.

Need water, fire, or mold damage help in Navy Yard?

If your Navy Yard or Capitol Riverfront home, building, or business has water damage, fire and smoke damage, or mold, contact ServiceMaster National Capital Restoration. We serve residential and commercial properties around the clock and will explain what we find and what comes next.