Provider profile
Chicago Water & Fire Restoration
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
West suburban Chicago homeowners dealing with water damage and secondary mold who want a single company to handle mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction under one insurance claim.
Best for
- Homeowners in the western Chicago suburbs from Elmhurst to Naperville who need same-day emergency response for water damage that has led to mold growth.
- Buyers who want one company to handle the entire job from water extraction through mold removal through drywall rebuild, rather than coordinating multiple contractors.
- Commercial property managers needing 24/7 sewage or flood response across the broader Chicagoland area.
- Insurance claimants who want a company experienced in direct billing, though you should verify scope independently.
About this company
Chicago Water & Fire Restoration is a family-owned restoration company headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois. Mold remediation is one piece of a broader operation that covers water damage, fire damage, storm damage, sewage cleanup, biohazard, and full reconstruction. They do both mold testing and mold removal, which means the same company deciding you have a problem is also selling you the fix.
Their mold process runs seven steps: inspection with moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras, containment with negative air pressure, air filtration using HEPA filters, removal of infested materials, cleaning of contents and belongings, and restoration of the affected area. They use 3D scanning technology during assessments to map damage. Every crew is IICRC trained. They respond 24/7 with a stated 30-60 minute arrival window and bill insurance companies directly.
They have been operating since 1988 and claim to serve over 4,000 clients annually across the Chicago metro area. The company also offers a 2-year warranty, financing options, and a payment portal. Their service territory spans most of the Chicago metropolitan area into southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana.
A 4.8-star rating across 2,030 Google reviews is strong volume for a restoration company. The positive reviews are dominated by praise for fast emergency response and helpful field crews. The negatives cluster around what happens after mitigation: communication drops off, billing gets complicated, and reconstruction timelines stretch well beyond initial estimates.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois. Serves the Chicago metropolitan area including Chicago proper and suburbs across Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and Kendall counties. Lists over 130 specific Illinois cities from Zion to Joliet. Also claims coverage in southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana, though the breadth of that three-state claim from a single Elmhurst office warrants confirming response times for locations outside the core suburban ring.
Review consensus
The field crews and mitigation teams get near-universal praise. Xavier Aguirre, Shondell, Kyle, Giovanni, Ryan, Jesse, Ayden, Jeremy, David, Cristian, and Joshua Black are named repeatedly for fast arrival, clear explanations, and respectful treatment of the home. Multiple reviewers note crews working late into the night or arriving within hours of a call. The 3D scanning assessment and step-by-step process walkthroughs are frequently mentioned as reassuring during stressful situations. Repeat customers exist, with several noting this was their second time using CWF.
27 found across 2030 total reviews at 4.8★. Communication failure after initial mitigation is the dominant complaint. Multiple reviewers describe weeks or months of unreturned calls, cycling through project managers (one reviewer went through three), and no updates on reconstruction timelines. Dawn Brewer waited from September to November with children in an unfinished home. Sam S waited 45 days for repairs after mitigation. Katy H spent six months before switching companies. Billing disputes are the second pattern: Tyler Wambeke caught an $8,000 billing error and was told it was correct; Elizabeth was charged a $300 after-hours fee for what was described as a free estimate; Alexander Kale felt pressured into mold remediation before the moisture source was addressed, with insurance ultimately not covering it. Reconstruction quality appears in several reviews: Oleh Perevertailo documented uneven drywall after three repair attempts; Maggie Sinz described single coats of paint billed as two coats plus primer, cabinets not anchored to studs, and cracking drywall. Timothy Fee's crew cut a hot water line while doing sheetrock work, flooding the basement a second time.
There is a clear split between the mitigation side and the restoration/administrative side of this company. The field crews who show up for emergencies consistently earn praise. The problems begin when the project transitions from emergency response to reconstruction, estimates, and billing. This office-vs-field disconnect appears structural rather than isolated. Owner responses follow a template pattern: nearly all include some version of "management will review" and "we will reach out directly" without engaging with the specifics of the complaint. The 78% response rate shows active reputation management, but the responses rarely address the substance of what went wrong.
Xavier Aguirre (project manager — positive). Shondell (mitigation tech — positive, named in multiple reviews). Kyle (mitigation tech — positive, paired with Shondell). Giovanni (project manager/estimator — positive). Ryan (project manager — positive, multiple reviews). Jesse (mitigation tech — positive). Ayden (mitigation tech — positive). Jeremy (mitigation tech — positive). David (mitigation tech — positive). Cristian (inspector — positive). Dexter (tech — positive). Joshua Black (project manager — positive). Drew (demo tech — positive). Gill (demo tech — positive). Jayden (demo tech — positive). Charlie Fleischacker (positive initial impression, but crew that followed criticized). Travis (estimator — mixed, praised for explaining process but mentioned in warranty dispute). Colin (mitigation tech — positive in one review, different Colin left 1-star review as customer). Manny (mitigation tech — positive). Romero (demo tech — positive). William (tech — positive). Miguel (tech — positive).
Ask for Xavier, Shondell, Giovanni, or Ryan by name if you can. The emergency mitigation side of this company earns its 4.8 stars. The risk is in what comes after: pin down your reconstruction timeline, payment schedule, and scope of work in writing before signing. Review every invoice line by line, and do not pay everything upfront.
Keep in mind
- They do both mold testing and mold remediation. This is a conflict of interest. Consider getting an independent mold assessment before agreeing to their remediation scope.
- The most consistent complaint across negative reviews is communication breakdown after initial mitigation. Field crews get praised, but project managers and the billing team draw repeated criticism for slow follow-up and unclear next steps.
- Multiple reviewers report pricing significantly higher than competitors for the same work. One reviewer's insurer described them as "extremely expensive." Another paid $1,200 for 45 minutes of mold work. Get competing quotes.
- Several reviewers describe scope disputes and billing errors that favored the company. One caught an $8,000 overcharge for materials that were never used. Review every line item on your invoice.
- Their service area claim covers three states and 100+ cities. The headquarters is in Elmhurst. Response times outside the core suburban ring may differ from the 30-60 minute promise.