What to Do After Water Damage in the First 24 Hours

What should you do first after water damage?

Make sure everyone is safe, stop the water at its source, and call for help within hours. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, so the clock starts when the water does.

Step-by-step: the first 24 hours

1. Check for danger. Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings, and stay out of standing water that is near outlets, cords or appliances.
2. Shut off the water. Close the fixture's valve or your home's main shutoff, usually on the street-facing side of the house or in the garage.
3. Cut power to wet areas at the breaker panel if you can reach it without standing in water.
4. Identify the water type. Clean water from a supply line is far less risky than water from a toilet, drain or sewer. Don't touch sewage.
5. Photograph everything. Take photos and video of the source, the water and the damaged items before you move anything.
6. Move valuables. Carry electronics, photos, documents and rugs to a dry room.
7. Lift furniture. Put foil, plastic or wood blocks under furniture legs on wet carpet to prevent stains and wicking.
8. Remove standing water from hard floors with mops or a wet vac if the area is safe and the water is clean.
9. Call your insurer to report the loss and get a claim number.
10. Call a restoration company to extract water and start drying.

What not to do

• Don't use a household vacuum on water.
• Don't turn on ceiling fans or lights in a wet ceiling.
• Don't walk on wet carpet near electrical outlets.
• Don't try to clean up sewage or water from outside.
• Don't tear out drywall or flooring before the damage is documented for your insurer.
• Don't turn off your AC. Cool, dry indoor air helps.

How to tell if water spread further than you can see

Water travels along framing and under flooring. Warning signs include baseboards that are swollen or separating, flooring that feels soft or spongy, paint that bubbles, and a musty smell in nearby rooms. A professional moisture meter and thermal camera find wet materials you can't see, which is why the full extent of the damage often surprises homeowners.

Clean water, gray water and sewage

The water's source decides what's safe to handle. Clean water from a supply line can usually be dried, and most materials can be saved. Gray water from a washer, dishwasher or toilet overflow carries contamination. Sewage and outside floodwater are the most dangerous and need professional cleanup. Our guide to water damage categories explains each type.

After the first day

Once professional drying is set up, expect equipment to run around the clock for several days. Keep it on, keep doors and windows as the technician advises, and watch for musty smells that might signal mold. Our guide on how fast mold grows after water damage explains what to watch for.