Water damage restoration in Northridge runs 24/7, reached from Tarzana by way of Reseda Boulevard. When water is spreading, close the main valve, keep away from wet outlets and phone the line. A crew can be arranged for ZIP 91324 or 91325, and a same-day visit depends on availability.
This page is organized around what Northridge is known for, the campus and the 1994 earthquake, and how each connects to the water calls we receive.
Northridge at a glance
Where it sits
Northridge lies north of Tarzana and Reseda. Porter Ranch and Granada Hills are to its north, and Winnetka and Chatsworth are to its west.
ZIP codes
Primary ZIP 91325, plus 91324 and the campus ZIP 91330.
Dispatch
Northridge callers get a live answer overnight and on weekends, not a voicemail box.
The campus and the rental market around it
California State University, Northridge opened in 1956 as the San Fernando Valley Campus on Nordhoff Street and Etiwanda Avenue. Enrollment was almost 40,000 by fall 2016, and the campus has its own ZIP, 91330. A large student population keeps a strong rental market in the surrounding blocks.
Rental houses and apartments bring a repeat pattern. A tenant finds a leak and the landlord needs to be told quickly. Document everything with photos and dates, report in writing, and call us if the water is active. The sooner it is reported, the sooner drying begins.
When water is spreading in Northridge
An active leak is an emergency in a house or an apartment. Shut off the water source you control and keep clear of wet outlets. If there is no shutoff you can reach, call the landlord or manager at once and then call the line.
Describe what the water has touched. In older apartment buildings, water can travel between units along pipe chases, and a crew can use meters to see how far.
The earthquake that took Northridge's name
The January 17, 1994 earthquake was named for Northridge from early epicenter estimates, though later work placed it in neighboring Reseda. It was a magnitude 6.7 event on a blind thrust fault, and freeways collapsed. Northridge Hospital Medical Center treated more than 1,000 patients in the first few days.
Water and gas lines were broken across the area in that quake. A home repaired after 1994 may have patched lines in walls or slabs. If you are buying a Northridge house, ask for records of plumbing repairs and have the lines inspected.
Postwar tracts and what they hold today
Settlement here began with Tongva villages and Spanish-era exploration. Agricultural lots were later subdivided into suburban tracts after World War II to meet veterans' housing demand, and commercial development followed in the 1950s. The area was called Zelzah in 1910 and North Los Angeles in 1929 before becoming Northridge Village in 1938.
If your house sits on a slab foundation, a leak is hard to see because the pipes run under the concrete. Warm spots on the floor, a rising water bill or the sound of running water when everything is off are worth acting on. Ask a plumber to check before the floor is damaged. Once water has spread, professional drying follows ANSI/IICRC S500 and relies on moisture readings.
Before we arrive: if water is still spreading in Northridge
Stop the source
Close the main valve. In a rental, tell the landlord and ask for the building shutoff if you cannot find it.
Power and safety
Keep clear of wet outlets and fixtures. If the panel is dry and reachable, cut power to the wet area. For sparking or gas, leave and call 911.
Lift and protect
Move belongings off the floor, especially electronics, books and anything that wicks water.
Stay out of dirty water
If the water is from a drain, toilet or outside flooding, keep people and pets out.
Call the 24/7 line
Call the line with your address, cross streets and a short description.
What we do first in Northridge
A burst line starts with emergency water removal, then water mitigation to dry. A leak that ran under a slab or behind a wall for weeks may need mold remediation. After drying, water damage repair rebuilds.
Neighbors in Reseda to the south and Sherman Oaks to the south-east are served from the same line.
ZIP codes in Northridge
We serve 91324 and 91325 for homes and apartments, and the unique campus ZIP 91330 for California State University, Northridge. The 91325 ZIP also carries the alias Sherwood Forest. Calls from these ZIP codes most often involve water mitigation after plumbing failures and mold concerns after slow leaks.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. We serve 91324 and 91325, including the Sherwood Forest area, and 91330, the unique ZIP for the university campus. Call and ask if you are not sure about your address.
Yes. Nights, weekends and holidays are covered by the same line. Ask dispatch how soon a crew can reach your street, since arrival time is not guaranteed.
Shut off water if you can, photograph the damage, tell your landlord in writing and call the line if water is active.
Warm spots on the floor, a rising water bill, or the sound of running water when everything is off are common signs. A plumber can confirm. If water is on the floor, call us for the drying.