Provider profile
1-800 Twin Cities South Metro
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
South metro homeowners in Burnsville, Eagan, or Apple Valley dealing with mold after water damage, backed by a family-run franchise with BELFOR resources and a 5.0 Google rating.
Best for
- Homeowners in Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, or Lakeville who need mold remediation following water damage from a sewer backup, sump pump failure, or pipe burst.
- Buyers who want a small family operation where the owner answers the phone and shows up on-site, rather than a large corporate dispatch model.
- Commercial property managers in the south metro who need water, mold, and fire restoration from one vendor with 24/7 availability.
- Homeowners unsure whether they actually have a mold problem — reviewers confirm this team gives honest assessments and will tell you if you do not need their services.
About this company
1-800 WATER DAMAGE Twin Cities South Metro operates out of Burnsville, Minnesota, serving the south metro suburbs from Eagan to Lakeville. It is a franchise of the national 1-800-WATER-DAMAGE brand, which is backed by BELFOR. Despite the corporate umbrella, this location runs as a family business — owner Mark Herll and his son Michael handle most jobs, with Ken and Pablo rounding out the crew.
Mold remediation is one piece of a broader restoration operation. Water damage is the primary service, and mold work typically follows a water event — sewer backup, sump pump failure, pipe burst. The website describes a six-step mold process: assessment, containment, removal, cleaning, prevention, and verification. They follow IICRC S520 guidelines and hold EPA Lead-Safe certification. One reviewer confirmed that the team uses thermal imaging cameras during inspections.
This is a small operation. Multiple reviewers describe Mark answering calls at midnight, showing up the same day, and giving honest assessments — including telling homeowners when they do not actually need remediation. That kind of honesty shows up repeatedly in the reviews.
5.0 stars across 37 Google reviews is unusual. The review volume is modest, but the perfect rating with no negatives in the last 18 months stands out. Many reviewers are Local Guides or have multiple reviews on their accounts, which adds some weight to the score.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota. Serves Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Minneapolis, Richfield, Edina, Hopkins, Rosemount, St. Louis Park, Savage, Farmington, and Bloomington. The coverage area focuses on the Twin Cities south metro.
Review consensus
Reviewers consistently name Mark, Mike (Michael), Ken, and Pablo. Mark draws the most mentions — reviewers describe him calling back at midnight (Julie Johnson), arriving within an hour (Ray and Janae Barriuso), and spending 30 minutes on the phone helping a homeowner understand their situation before even scheduling a visit (Lily Li). Mike gets credit for clear explanations and hands-on work. Ken and Pablo earned praise for sewer backup demolition and cleanup (Lena Lange). Multiple reviewers highlight honest assessments: Corey Harmer describes Michael inspecting a mold situation and telling the homeowner to just cut out the affected subfloor themselves. Marx describes a representative advising a DIY fix instead of pushing costly repairs. Wendi Chen, Adam Maryniuk, and Mary Zubrzycki all emphasize trustworthiness and honesty as the defining trait.
0 found across 37 total reviews at 5.0★. No negative reviews found in the last 18 months.
The honesty pattern is structural, not incidental. At least four separate reviewers describe being told they did not need services or could handle the problem themselves. For a company that makes money from remediation work, turning away paying customers is a notable signal. This likely reflects the family ownership model — Mark and Mike are building a referral network (several reviews come from realtors and contractors who refer clients to them), and that model rewards long-term trust over short-term revenue.
Mark Herll (owner — praised repeatedly for responsiveness, honesty, and late-night availability). Mike/Michael (Mark's son, technician — praised for clear explanations, thermal camera inspections, and honest assessments). Ken (technician — praised for sewer backup response and communication). Pablo (technician — praised for demolition and remediation work on sewer backup jobs).
This is a small family operation that reviewers trust. Ask for Mark or Mike by name. If your mold problem stems from a water event — sewer backup, sump failure, leaky pipe — this team handles the full chain from water extraction through mold cleanup. Get a separate mold test from an independent hygienist before and after remediation to keep everyone honest.
Keep in mind
- Mold remediation is not their primary service. Water damage restoration is the core business, and mold work runs secondary. If you need a mold-only specialist, this is a restoration company that also does mold.
- The team is small. Mark, Mike, Ken, and Pablo handle the work. During busy seasons or large-scale emergencies, capacity could be a factor.
- This is a franchise location. While locally owned and operated by Mark Herll and his family, the brand, training, and some resources come from BELFOR's national network. Pricing and processes follow franchise standards.
- 37 reviews is a limited sample. The 5.0 rating is strong but based on fewer data points than larger competitors. A single bad experience could shift the picture.