Provider profile
WATERDOGS
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Eastern Sierra homeowners and property managers in Mammoth Lakes or Bishop dealing with water damage, mold, or hantavirus cleanup from a family-run outfit that has operated in this corridor since 1995.
Best for
- Mammoth Lakes and Bishop homeowners facing water damage, mold, or hantavirus contamination who want a local company with 30 years of Eastern Sierra experience.
- Vacation property owners and property managers needing a single company for water extraction, mold remediation, and preventive crawlspace encapsulation.
- Homeowners with insurance claims who want a restoration company that handles documentation and coordinates directly with the carrier.
About this company
Waterdogs is a family-owned restoration company based in Mammoth Lakes, California, serving the Eastern Sierra corridor including Bishop, Mono County, and Inyo County. They handle water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold remediation, hantavirus decontamination, and biohazard cleanup. They also do both mold testing and remediation, which is worth noting as a potential conflict of interest.
What stands out is the hantavirus decontamination service. This is uncommon among mold remediation companies and reflects a real Eastern Sierra need, where rodent-borne contamination in seasonal cabins and vacation homes is a recurring problem. Their website describes a 6-step mold remediation process that includes containment, negative air pressure, HEPA air scrubbing, and clearance testing. They also offer crawlspace encapsulation and HVAC vent cleaning, both relevant to the moisture and air quality issues common in mountain properties.
The company started in 1995 as ServiceMaster of the Eastern Sierra, founded by Michael Hamdorf. In 2022, Manny and Paola Garcia took over and rebranded to Waterdogs. They are active in the Mammoth Lakes community through the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, and have worked on local institutions including the Mammoth Lakes Library and the Mammoth Lakes Foundation Ski Museum.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Mammoth Lakes, California. Serves the Eastern Sierra corridor including Bishop and surrounding communities across Mono County and Inyo County. The service area is geographically vast but sparsely populated, so confirm availability for locations outside the two main towns.
Review consensus
Reviewers praise punctuality and responsiveness. Valerie Huarte noted same-day scheduling and a crew that arrived on time and left everything as they found it. Andres Villalpando highlighted knowledge and easy appointment booking, adding they plan to use Waterdogs for all their properties. Hidden Valley Village Condominiums wrote they will continue using the service. Jeannie McCamish specifically praised HVAC vent cleaning for mice and hantavirus prevention. Multiple reviewers mention clean work sites and clear communication.
0 found across 19 total reviews at 4.9★. No negative reviews to analyze in this window.
The absence of negative reviews across 19 total is notable but should be read in context: this is a small-market company in a town of about 8,000 people. The review volume is low enough that a single bad experience could meaningfully shift the rating. Several 5-star reviews have no text, which is common in small-town review patterns where people leave a star rating as a favor.
No individual staff members are named in any reviews. Reviewers reference "the staff," "the crew," and "worker" without specific names.
The reviews paint a consistent picture of a responsive, tidy operation that shows up on time and communicates well. Zero complaints in 18 months is a good sign, though the small review volume means you are working with limited data. Ask for references from jobs similar to yours, and get an independent mold test if they are also doing the remediation.
Keep in mind
- Waterdogs does both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest. Consider getting an independent test before or after their work to confirm the scope and results.
- With only 19 Google reviews, the 4.9-star rating is based on a small sample. This is a small-town company, and the review volume reflects the market size, not necessarily broad validation.
- Their service area covers a large geographic range across Mono and Inyo counties. In a remote mountain corridor, confirm response times and availability for your specific location, especially in winter.