Provider profile
2nd Chance Water Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Chicagoland homeowners dealing with basement flooding or attic mold who want a family-owned restoration company that handles water extraction, mold removal, and rebuild under one roof.
Best for
- Chicagoland homeowners who need emergency water extraction with same-day response and a single company to handle cleanup through rebuild.
- Homeowners with attic mold problems who want a company that follows a third-party testing protocol rather than self-testing.
- Property owners whose insurance company is covering the damage, since 2nd Chance coordinates directly with insurers and is listed as a preferred vendor by several.
- Anyone needing sewer backup cleanup in the western suburbs, where the company is headquartered and responds fastest.
About this company
2nd Chance Water Restoration is a family-owned restoration company based in Addison, Illinois, serving the greater Chicagoland area. Their primary identity is water damage restoration, but mold remediation makes up a significant part of their work. Owner Patrick O'Connor has been in the restoration industry for over 19 years and holds IICRC certification in water restoration and applied microbial remediation.
What stands out is their one-stop model. They handle water extraction, drying, mold removal, fire restoration, sewer cleanup, air duct cleaning, and the rebuild afterward. Their remodel managers claim over 50 years of combined experience. They advertise a 60-minute emergency response time and work directly with insurance companies. On the mold side, they explicitly do not perform mold testing, stating on their website that they avoid it to prevent a conflict of interest. They require customers to hire a separate testing company, follow that company's remediation protocol, and then get a post-work clearance test.
Patrick O'Connor owns and operates the company. The about page says the business started in 2010, though the site header says 1997. The company holds an A+ BBB accreditation and claims to have completed over 20,000 jobs nationwide, including hurricane and disaster response work.
A 4.8-star rating across 239 Google reviews is strong. Most of the positive feedback centers on fast response times and Patrick's direct, hands-on involvement. The negative reviews are notable less for their volume and more for the owner's lengthy, combative public responses, which some reviewers cite as a red flag in themselves.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Addison, Illinois (DuPage County). Serves the greater Chicagoland area as their core territory, with claims of coverage extending to Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana. Website tags reference specific suburbs including Warrenville, Elwood, Peotone, Park City, and Rockdale. Confirm crew availability and response time for locations outside DuPage and Cook counties.
Review consensus
Fast emergency response is the most consistent theme. Multiple reviewers describe Pat arriving within an hour of a 6 AM call or same-day flooding emergencies. Reviewers name Pat, Kenny, Andrew, Nini, Anwar, Brian, Vadim, Tony, Ron, Pablo, and Christian positively. Stephanie Martinez specifically praised Patrick for not taking advantage of a homeowner with limited knowledge about mold. Pete described Pat and Kenny making a basement flood feel manageable. Several reviewers highlight fair pricing and willingness to stick to the original quote.
6 found across 239 total reviews at 4.8★. Krista Kline, a Local Guide with 16 reviews, described a mold project that failed two consecutive air tests, personal items thrown away during demolition, and containment that a subsequent mold inspector called inadequate. She paid $8,316. Dhimiter Bello, a Local Guide with 17 reviews, said the crew left areas uncleaned, did not remove screws from drywall, and damaged a hallway wall with equipment. He also said he was told a report would be provided but never received one. Christina Chaidez described workers leaving leaking plumbing valves unattended overnight, which flooded her basement, after which the company walked off the job. Lynn N said the company destroyed her bathroom floor, though the owner responded that demolition was the service she hired them for. Alex Monroe and Jobeh Moore left brief complaints; the owner's response to both suggests he could not identify them as customers.
The owner responds to 100% of negative reviews, but the responses are unusually long and adversarial. Patrick disputes specific claims, provides his version of events, and sometimes questions the reviewer's motives or character. Several responses run 300+ words. At least two reviewers — Jobeh Moore and Krista Kline — specifically cited the owner's response style as a warning to others. This is a company where the owner is deeply involved and takes complaints personally. That same intensity drives the fast response times and hands-on service that positive reviewers praise, but it also means disputes can escalate rather than resolve.
Pat/Patrick (owner — overwhelmingly positive in reviews, named in nearly every positive review; combative in owner responses to negatives). Kenny (field crew — positive, praised for reassuring manner). Andrew (field crew — positive). Nini (field crew — positive). Anwar (field crew — positive). Brian (dispatch/response — positive, praised for quick callback). Vadim (supervisor/estimator — positive in one review for fair quotes, named in Christina Chaidez's negative as the supervisor who walked off the job). Tony (field crew — positive). Ron (field crew — positive). Pablo (field crew — positive). Christian (field crew — positive). Terrance (field crew — positive, from website testimonial). Jose (field crew — positive, from website testimonial).
Ask for Pat directly and get everything in writing before work starts, including what is and is not in scope. The company does strong emergency water work and the positive reviews are genuine and detailed. But if something goes wrong, expect a fight rather than a quiet resolution. Get your own mold testing company lined up before hiring them for remediation, and insist on a clearance test before final payment.
Keep in mind
- The owner responds to every negative review at length and sometimes combatively. Multiple reviewers have flagged this as unprofessional. Read the Google responses yourself before deciding.
- Two recent negative reviews from Local Guide reviewers describe incomplete mold cleanup that failed post-remediation air testing. One property failed twice.
- The website header says 'Since 1997' but the about page says 'In business since 2010.' The founding date is unclear.
- Their service area claims are broad — Chicagoland, Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana. Confirm response time and crew availability for locations outside DuPage and Cook counties.
- They do not provide mold testing or post-remediation reports. You will need to hire a separate testing company before and after the work.