Provider profile
PuroClean Fire & Water Experts
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Columbus homeowners dealing with basement water damage or post-leak mold growth who want a PuroClean franchise location owned by Rick Gutridge with same-day emergency response.
Best for
- Columbus-area homeowners with basement flooding from sump pump failures, pipe leaks, or storm water who need same-day water extraction.
- Property owners who want a restoration company that coordinates directly with their insurance carrier on claims paperwork.
- Homeowners in Upper Arlington, Worthington, Dublin, or Gahanna who need mold removal after water damage and want a crew on-site within hours.
- Commercial property managers needing 24/7 emergency response for water, fire, or biohazard situations across Franklin County and surrounding counties.
About this company
PuroClean Fire & Water Experts is a franchise location in Columbus, Ohio, owned by Rick Gutridge. Based at 2967 E 6th Ave, the office handles water damage mitigation, mold removal, fire and smoke restoration, biohazard cleanup, and reconstruction for both residential and commercial properties. Mold work is one piece of a broader restoration operation, not their sole focus.
The team uses dehumidifiers, high-velocity air blowers, and a specialized hardwood floor drying panel system. They mention EPA-registered disinfectants for mold and sewage situations. The website references desiccant dehumidification for hardwood floors, which is a less common drying method. They hold IICRC certification and EPA Lead-Safe certification. They won the 2022 Contractor Connection Golden Hammer Award, which is an insurance-network recognition for claims handling.
Rick Gutridge owns and operates this location. He responds to after-hours calls personally and shows up for weekend emergencies, according to multiple reviewers. The office runs 24/7 emergency service and works directly with insurance companies on claims.
4.8 stars across 290 Google reviews is strong volume for a Columbus restoration company. The positive reviews consistently highlight same-day arrival and named crew members who communicate throughout the job. Only 2 reviews at 3 stars or below appeared in the last 18 months, both from the same customer on a large reconstruction project.
Services
Service area
Headquartered at 2967 E 6th Ave in Columbus, Ohio. The website lists specific service areas including Columbus, Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, Riverlea, Upper Arlington, Whitehall, and Worthington, plus Gahanna, Dublin, Westerville, Sunbury, Galena, Delaware, Plain City, Blacklick, Clintonville, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, New Albany, Hilliard, Grove City, German Village, Canal Winchester, Pataskala, and Galloway. They also claim coverage across Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Franklin, Madison, Ross, and Delaware counties, which is a wide radius from a single office.
Review consensus
Tony Moore draws the most specific praise. Multiple reviewers describe him arriving same day, explaining the damage clearly, and following through on commitments. Terry and Angel appear together in several reviews as a field team praised for prompt arrival, careful work, and cleaning up after themselves. Nick Moore handles assessments and quoting, with one reviewer noting he sent estimates an hour after the site visit. Rick Gutridge personally responds to weekend and after-hours calls. Chuck and Chardnay get named as a reliable pair for water extraction work. Reviewers consistently highlight same-day or next-day response, clear communication during the job, and respectful treatment of property.
2 found across 290 total reviews at 4.8★. Both 1-star reviews come from Jennifer Parker regarding the same large reconstruction project. The first review (July 2025) describes a rebuild that started over two years prior and remained incomplete, with weeks of no work and a payment dispute over $200K. Parker says Rick Gutridge stopped work until she paid 99% of the total. The owner's response states the project entered warranty phase with $60K still unpaid and frames the remaining issues as being actively addressed. The second review (July 2025, posted slightly earlier) describes poor project management, lack of responsiveness, and difficulty reaching Rick Gutridge. The owner responded with a brief acknowledgment. This is a single-customer dispute on a large reconstruction project, not a pattern across multiple clients.
The negative reviews involve reconstruction (build-back), not emergency mitigation or mold removal. PuroClean's reviews split cleanly: emergency water/mold work gets near-universal praise for speed and communication, while the one large-scale rebuild project generated the only complaints. This suggests the team excels at the fast-turnaround mitigation work that makes up the bulk of their jobs, but a complex, months-long reconstruction project exposed different operational challenges. The owner responds to every negative review, though the responses lean toward formal corporate language rather than specific problem-solving.
Tony Moore (crew lead/project manager — praised repeatedly for communication, same-day response, and honesty on pricing). Terry (field technician — praised across many reviews for prompt, courteous work). Angel (field technician — praised alongside Terry as a reliable pair). Nick Moore / Nicholas Moore (assessor/estimator — praised for fast quoting and organization). Chuck (field technician — praised for water extraction work). Chardnay / Charnay / Charna (field technician — praised alongside Chuck). Rick Gutridge (owner — praised for personal availability and weekend calls; named negatively by one customer in a rebuild dispute). Adam (field technician — praised for helpfulness). Barbara (coordinator/vendor contact — praised for communication). Braxton, Ky, Rylee, Michelle, Katelynn (crew — praised for smoke damage cleanup). Matt S (project manager — praised). Brandon, Aiden (field technicians — praised). Clayton, Ricky, Zach, Vinny (crew — praised). Brian (crew — praised). Clyde, Tiffany (crew — praised for drywall/carpentry). Joel (assessor — praised). Norman (field technician — praised). Roger (crew — praised).
For emergency water damage or mold removal in Columbus, this PuroClean location delivers fast response with crews that reviewers name and praise by name. Ask for Tony Moore or Terry if you want the team members with the strongest track records. Be cautious about large-scale reconstruction projects, which involve a fundamentally different scope and timeline than the mitigation work where this team shines.
Keep in mind
- This is a PuroClean franchise. The national brand sets standards, but service quality depends on the local owner and crew. Rick Gutridge runs this location.
- Their primary business is water and fire damage restoration. Mold remediation is a related service, not their core specialty. If you have a mold-only situation without water damage, ask whether the same crew handles standalone mold jobs.
- One reviewer describes a major reconstruction project (nearly $200K) that stretched past two years with payment disputes and work stoppages. Large rebuild projects carry different risks than emergency mitigation work.
- The service area list is broad, covering multiple counties (Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Franklin, Madison, Ross, Delaware). Confirm response times for locations far from their East Columbus office.
- They do not perform mold testing or inspection. You will need a separate company for that.