Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Restoration Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Water Restoration Technician is a field-facing restoration professional responsible for rapid response to water loss events in residential and commercial properties. This role performs water extraction, structural drying, moisture mapping, containment and controlled demolition while following IICRC standards (S500/S520), safety protocols, and insurer or project-specific guidelines. The ideal candidate combines technical knowledge of drying equipment and moisture diagnostics with excellent customer service, documentation skills and the physical stamina to perform hands-on mitigation work in emergency and scheduled service calls.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Restoration Assistant / Restoration Laborer
Carpet Cleaning Technician or Janitorial Services
General Construction Laborer or HVAC Helper

Advancement To:

Crew Chief / Lead Technician
Project Manager or Site Supervisor (Water Restoration)
Estimator / Commercial Claims Specialist
Restoration Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Mold Remediation Technician
Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician
Environmental Remediation or Biohazard Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Respond to emergency water loss calls and perform timely on-site assessment, triage and containment to prevent further property damage, documenting initial conditions with comprehensive photo and written notes for insurance and project files.
Operate truck-mounted and portable water extraction equipment (pumps, wet-vacs, submersible pumps) to remove standing water from structures and contents safely and efficiently while monitoring pump performance and fluid disposal rules.
Develop and implement structural drying plans using industry-standard methodology (IICRC S500), selecting and positioning air movers, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers and heat systems to achieve drying goals and minimize demolition.
Perform moisture mapping and diagnostics using moisture meters, thermo-hygrometers, penetrating and non-penetrating probes, and thermal imaging cameras, record baseline and daily readings, and adjust drying strategies until acceptable moisture levels are reached.
Execute controlled demolition and non-salvageable material removal (carpet, padding, baseboards, drywall) with minimal collateral damage, maintaining a clean and safe job site and documenting items removed for claims.
Conduct sewage and raw water remediation following OSHA, local, and company biohazard protocols—using PPE, proper containment, deodorization and disposal methods to protect occupants and technicians.
Pack-out, inventory, and transport salvageable personal property to a secure location for cleaning and storage when contents require remediation or relocation; coordinate contents cleaning and tracking processes with the production team.
Perform odor control and deodorization using thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators, ozone (where applicable and safe), and specialty chemical treatments to address persistent malodors after water losses.
Prepare accurate, insurer-ready documentation including moisture maps, equipment logs, daily drying reports, work orders, scope of work and photographic evidence to support claims and invoicing.
Use estimating and job management platforms (e.g., Xactimate, Symbility, Ease) to assist with line-item estimates, scope validation, and communication with adjusters and estimating teams.
Coordinate with insurance adjusters, property owners, property managers, and subcontractors to establish scope, timelines and approvals; explain technical procedures and expected outcomes in clear, non-technical language to customers.
Perform remedial structural repairs and basic reconstruction tasks post-drying including minor carpentry, baseboard and drywall replacement, trim work and flooring prep to return properties to pre-loss condition when required.
Implement infection control and cross-contamination prevention techniques, including establishing negative air and containment barriers, HEPA filtration, and proper waste handling on jobs involving microbial concerns.
Monitor and maintain restoration equipment inventory, perform daily maintenance and light repairs on generators, pumps, dehumidifiers and fans, and report or schedule major repairs to maintain response readiness.
Participate in on-call rotations and emergency response schedules, providing 24/7 rapid deployment capability for large loss or catastrophic water events.
Follow company safety programs and OSHA guidelines, complete job hazard analyses (JHAs), and demonstrate proper use of PPE, lockout/tagout, ladder safety, confined space awareness and fall protection where applicable.
Deliver professional customer service at all stages of the job, conducting thorough walk-throughs with homeowners or property managers, setting expectations for timeline and outcomes, and addressing concerns promptly.
Conduct final inspections and post-restoration verification including final moisture scans, equipment removal, job site cleanup, and customer sign-off to close out work orders and finalize billing.
Train and mentor junior technicians and new hires on field procedures, equipment operation, safety protocols and documentation standards to maintain consistent service quality across crews.
Maintain accurate timekeeping, materials usage logs and job cost records for project profitability tracking and post-job analysis.
Comply with environmental regulations and local disposal requirements for contaminated water, chemicals and waste materials; complete chain-of-custody and disposal documentation when required.
Implement continuous improvement feedback by reporting recurring loss patterns, product performance issues or procedural gaps to production managers to improve field protocols and customer outcomes.
Support company quality assurance by participating in internal audits, customer satisfaction follow-ups and corrective action plans when performance issues are identified.
Liaise with restoration vendors and specialty contractors (electrical, HVAC, flooring, mold specialists) to coordinate multi-trade scopes and ensure safe, code-compliant handoffs during reconstruction phases.

Secondary Functions

Assist operations with inventory audits, equipment procurement recommendations and vendor comparisons based on field performance data.
Help develop and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety bulletins and training materials based on field learnings and regulatory changes.
Contribute jobsite photos, notes and structured feedback to the company knowledgebase so future teams benefit from documented learnings and solutions.
Support marketing and business development by providing job highlights, client testimonials and before/after media for use in digital portfolios and case studies.
Participate in scheduled training and certification renewal activities (IICRC courses, OSHA refresher, vendor equipment training) to maintain compliance and technical currency.
Occasionally assist with light office tasks such as entering field reports, updating job statuses in field management software or preparing equipment service requests.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency operating water extraction equipment: truck-mounted pumps, portable extractors, submersible pumps and wet/dry vacuums.
Structural drying expertise: selecting and balancing air movers and dehumidifiers, establishing psychrometric drying goals and interpreting moisture data.
Moisture detection and documentation: use of penetrating and non-penetrating moisture meters, thermo-hygrometers, dataloggers and thermal imaging cameras.
Knowledge of IICRC standards (S500, S520) and ability to apply industry best practices for water mitigation and mold-impacted materials.
Experience performing sewage and biohazard remediation with appropriate PPE, disinfection protocols and hazardous waste disposal procedures.
Familiarity with restoration estimating and job management tools such as Xactimate, Symbility, Sage or similar platforms.
Basic demolition, carpentry and reconstruction skills to perform controlled tear-outs, framing repair, drywall and flooring prep.
Ability to set up and monitor negative air, containment barriers and HEPA-filtered air scrubbers in contaminant control scenarios.
Competence in odor control technologies and chemicals (foggers, hydroxyls, enzymatic cleaners, deodorants).
Proficient documentation skills: producing daily drying logs, photo documentation, scope of work write-ups and compliance reports.
Mobile device competency and experience with field-reporting apps and cloud-based job tracking systems.
Proper PPE selection and safety compliance including fall protection, respiratory protection and confined space awareness.
Vehicle operation and safe driving record; CDL preferred by some employers for larger equipment transport.

Soft Skills

Excellent customer service and communication skills; able to explain technical processes clearly and set realistic expectations with customers and adjusters.
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking to adapt drying plans when conditions change or unexpected issues arise.
Attention to detail for accurate documentation, moisture readings and scope verification to support insurance claims.
Teamwork and leadership potential to collaborate with crew members, subcontractors and cross-functional stakeholders in fast-paced environments.
Time management and prioritization skills to handle multiple jobs, emergency calls and scheduled work within deadlines.
Physical stamina and manual dexterity to perform repetitive, physically demanding tasks safely over long shifts.
Professionalism and empathy when dealing with homeowners during stressful water loss situations.
Flexibility and availability for on-call rotations, overtime and occasional extended deployments during large-loss events.
Continuous learning mindset and willingness to pursue certifications (IICRC WRT/ASD, OSHA, vendor equipment training).
Reliability, punctuality and a strong safety-first orientation to protect team members and customers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate or industry training (IICRC Water Restoration Technician - WRT; Applied Structural Drying - ASD).
Vocational coursework in construction, HVAC, or environmental services.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Technology / Carpentry
Environmental Science or Environmental Health
HVAC / Mechanical Trades
Industrial Hygiene / Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 3 years for entry-level technician roles; 2+ years commonly required for intermediate positions.

Preferred:

2+ years of hands-on water mitigation/restoration experience, including emergency response, extraction, drying and documentation.
Prior experience with insurance workflows, claims documentation and estimating software (Xactimate or similar) is highly desirable.
Certifications: IICRC WRT and/or ASD preferred; OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER awareness, and vendor equipment training a plus.