Tujunga sits in Los Angeles County where the Tujunga Wash and runoff from Angeles National Forest can send sudden sheets of water into yards and crawl spaces after even moderate rain. Mediterranean summers bake the ground hard, so water pools instead of soaking in, especially around older single-story homes in Tujunga Village and Foothill Trails built before modern grading standards. Our extraction crews stage truck-mounted pumps and portable extractors at the 6350 Foothill Blvd shop so we can reach properties in Sunland or Sylmar within the hour and pull water before it migrates under hardwood floors or into wall cavities.
In Shadow Hills and along the wash edges, many homes have raised foundations or partial basements that trap water against stucco and plaster. We start with submersible pumps to drop the level below the slab, then switch to weighted wands that pull water from carpet pad and hardwood without lifting boards. Hot dry air helps once we open the structure, but we still run commercial dehumidifiers because residual moisture in lathe-and-plaster walls can feed mold for weeks if left above 16 percent. Every job ends with moisture mapping so owners know exactly which rooms crossed the extraction threshold.
Flash runoff from the national forest often carries silt that clogs standard shop-vacs, so we use filtered pumps and rinse lines on site rather than hauling contaminated water back to the shop. Crews working near Bolton Hall Museum or in tight Foothill Trails lots stage equipment on the street and run long hoses to avoid blocking driveways. We never cut corners on containment because one missed low spot near a shared property line can send water into a neighbor’s garage the next time the wash rises.
Technician insight
In Tujunga the thing that catches most people out with water extraction is the hard-packed soil and older raised foundations in Foothill Trails homes—water sits against the stem wall instead of draining away, so you have to keep the wand moving under the joists or it will wick back into the subfloor the next time the wash runs.
Tujunga Wash Runoff into Crawl Space
Heavy rain sent water across a yard in Tujunga Village and under the house. We found six inches standing against the foundation and saturated insulation. Pumps dropped the level in two hours, then we extracted from the joist bays and set drying equipment so the owner could stay in the home.
How it works
- 1
Arrival and Safety Setup
Technicians park at the address, shut off power to affected zones, and place containment barriers before any pumps start.
- 2
Standing Water Removal
Submersible pumps and weighted extractors pull bulk water from floors, carpets, and low areas until only thin film remains.
- 3
Hidden Moisture Check
Infrared meters and probes locate trapped water behind baseboards and under cabinets that surface pumps miss.
- 4
Final Extraction and Documentation
Second pass with air movers and moisture logs confirms levels are low enough for drying equipment to finish the job.
Pricing
Pricing depends on water depth, square footage, and access; we inspect first then give a written scope before any work begins.