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Water damage restoration on Google.Set up to be chosen.

Categories, services, attributes, photos and a year of posts for water damage restoration companies. Category names checked against public copies of Google's list on Nov 1, 2026; confirm them in your profile's category picker.

The short answer

Updated

Restoration companies should choose Water damage restoration service as their primary category on Google Business Profile, then add Fire damage restoration service or Carpet cleaning service only if you do that work. Watch the traps: 'Mold maker' is a manufacturing category, and there's no Mold remediation category in Google's list. Keep emergency hours exact and post real jobs, never a customer's address or loss.

Your categories.Primary first.

The primary category tells Google what you mainly are. Secondary ones add the other work you do.

Primary

Water damage restoration service

It matches emergency searches and is in both public copies of Google's list.

Fire damage restoration service

Use it when you restore homes after fires.

Waterproofing service

Use it when you waterproof basements or foundations.

Carpet cleaning service

Use it when you clean and restore carpets after water damage.

General contractor

Use it when you rebuild after drying out.

Skip it if you refer rebuilds to others.

Building restoration service

Use it when you restore buildings, not only dry them.

Skip it if your work is water and fire. This category usually means historic or masonry restoration.

Services to add.The way customers say them.

Water

Water extraction, Structural drying, Flooded basement cleanup, Burst pipe cleanup

Mold and sewage

Mold inspection, Mold removal, Sewage cleanup

Rebuild

Drywall replacement, Flooring replacement, Insurance claim help

Attributes.Small ticks, real answers.

Owner identity
Google offers attributes such as Veteran-owned, Women-owned and Black-owned. Add only those that are true; they help customers who look for them.
Small business
Google defines a small business as one making less than $10 million a year, and franchises can't use it.

8 photos first.Real jobs, real people.

  1. 01Drying equipment set up in a room, with no personal items in view
  2. 02The crew in protective gear at work
  3. 03A moisture meter reading during drying
  4. 04Your branded van or trailer, with no house number in view
  5. 05The team in uniform
  6. 06A finished rebuild after water damage
  7. 07Your warehouse or office exterior with signage
  8. 08Certification on display, such as IICRC

A year of posts.One a week, by season.

Example posts to adapt. Write them from your own jobs and photos.

January
Frozen pipesExample: Pipe burst? Shut off the main water valve first, then call. Here's where to find it.
February
BasementsExample: Check your sump pump before the spring thaw. Pour in a bucket and make sure it switches on.
March
Spring stormsExample: Water in the basement after a storm? The EPA says to dry it within 24 to 48 hours.
April
MoldExample: Musty smell after a leak? What mold needs to grow, and why fast drying matters.
May
Real jobExample: A flooded basement in [neighbourhood] dried in [days] this week. Moisture readings back to normal.
June
Summer stormsExample: Before storm season: clean gutters and check that downspouts point away from the house.
July
InsuranceExample: How we work with your insurer: photos, moisture readings and a job file you keep.
August
Appliance leaksExample: Old washing machine hoses fail. A quick check that can prevent a flood.
September
PreparednessExample: Know where your main water shut-off is before you need it.
October
Fall prepExample: Before the cold: disconnect hoses and insulate exposed pipes.
November
Holiday travelExample: Going away? Turn the water off at the main and leave the heat on low.
December
Thank youExample: Thanks to every family who trusted us during a hard week this year.

What gets profiles suspended.Avoid these.

  • Adding keywords, towns or taglines to your business name. Google says it can lead to suspension.Google's guideline
  • Using a P.O. box or a virtual office you don't work from as your address.Google's guideline
  • A service area that stretches beyond about two hours' drive from your base.Google's guideline
  • Posting photos that show a customer's address, belongings or loss without permission.Google's guideline
  • Creating a new profile for the same business, including after a suspension. Appeal instead; Google allows one appeal.Google's guideline

Questions people ask.Short answers.

Is there a Mold remediation category?

Not in the public copies of Google's list we checked. List mold removal in your services instead. Avoid 'Mold maker', which is a manufacturing category.

Should we say we're open 24/7?

Only if someone really answers around the clock. Emergency callers judge you on whether that's true.

Can we post job photos?

Yes, with the customer's permission and nothing that shows their address or personal belongings.

Sources

  1. Google: Guidelines for representing your business · checked Oct 31, 2026
  2. Google Business Profile Help: Edit your Business Profile · checked Oct 31, 2026
  3. Google Business Profile Help: Tips for business-specific photos · checked Oct 31, 2026
  4. Google Business Profile Help: Create and manage posts · checked Oct 31, 2026

By Shakhawat Ullah Badhon, Founder, Damex Digital. Published Nov 1, 2026, updated Nov 1, 2026.