What to Do After Water Damage in Your Home

Step 1: Make the area safe before anything else

Treat water and electricity as a hazard

Water and electrical systems are a dangerous combination. Do not touch electrical equipment while it is wet or while you are standing in water. The CDC advises never turning power on or off yourself, or using an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water, and having an electrician check the home's electrical system before power is restored if there is any doubt.

If water is near outlets, power strips or the electrical panel and you cannot reach the breaker while staying dry, stay out of the area and call an electrician or your utility.

Decide whether the water may be contaminated

Clean water from a broken supply line is the lowest-risk situation. Water that came from outside the home, from a toilet or drain, or from a washing machine or dishwasher drain may carry bacteria and other contaminants. If you suspect sewage or floodwater, avoid direct contact, keep children and pets away, and see sewage cleanup for how that situation is handled.

Step 2: Stop the water at its source

If water is still coming in, nothing else matters until it stops.

• For a burst pipe or failed supply line, close the main water shutoff valve for the house. Find it before you need it; it is often near the water meter or where the line enters the house.
• For a leaking fixture, toilet or appliance, close the shutoff valve at that fixture or appliance.
• For a failing water heater, turn off its cold-water supply and the power or gas to the unit.
• For roof or window leaks during a storm, you may not be able to stop the water. Move belongings out of its path and place buckets, and avoid climbing on a wet roof.

Once the water is stopped, call a plumber or roofer to repair the source. Our guide to burst pipe water cleanup explains how repair and water removal fit together.

Step 3: Document the damage before you move things

Insurers generally want evidence of the condition of your property after a loss, and your own records are the best version of that evidence.

• Take photos and video of the source, every wet room, damaged belongings and any visible water lines on walls.
• Write down what is damaged, with approximate age and value, and keep brand and model information for appliances and electronics.
• Keep receipts for emergency repairs, equipment and temporary lodging.
• Note the date and time you discovered the water and when you stopped it.

Then contact your insurance company to ask how to start a claim. Coverage depends on your policy and on the cause of the water, so avoid assuming either way. If a claim dispute develops later, the Florida Department of Financial Services runs an insurance consumer helpline for Floridians.

Step 4: Remove water only if it is safe to do so

For a small, clean spill that you can reach safely, you can start removal yourself.

1. Soak up standing water with towels, a mop or a wet-dry vacuum rated for water pickup. Plug it into a properly protected outlet that is not in or near the water.
2. Lift small furniture, rugs and boxes off wet floors. Place foil or blocks under furniture legs that must stay.
3. Remove wet items from the area and spread them out to dry.
4. Run air conditioning and a dehumidifier. In humid Florida weather, opening windows can bring in moist air instead of drying the room.

Do not use a household vacuum on standing water, do not walk through standing water if outlets or cords may be submerged, and do not try to remove large amounts of water or water that may be contaminated yourself.

Why prompt water removal matters

Water does not stay where it lands. It soaks into carpet and padding, wicks up drywall and trim, and settles into subfloors and insulation. The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Florida's humidity makes that window harder to meet, because damp materials dry slowly in humid air.

That is why a spill that seems minor at 10 p.m. can become a bigger problem by the weekend. If you are unsure how far the water went, read how long water damage cleanup can take and what affects the timeline in our guide to water damage cleanup time.

When professional restoration is necessary

Call a professional if any of these apply:

• More than a small area is wet, or water is deep enough to cover floors.
• The water may be contaminated, for example from sewage, a drain backup or floodwater.
• Water has soaked carpet padding, drywall, cabinets or insulation.
• You cannot tell where the moisture went, or the room still smells musty after drying.
• The loss involves the electrical system, ceiling or structural components.
• You have a larger claim and want documented drying records.

Our emergency water extraction in Valrico service can pull water out and set up drying equipment, and a full water damage restoration job continues through cleaning and repairs. If you are not sure which you need, this comparison of extraction and restoration explains the difference.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting to see if it dries on its own.
• Turning on ceiling fans or lights that may be wet, or using electrical equipment in standing water.
• Using a household vacuum on water.
• Heating wet carpet, which can speed up odors rather than solve them.
• Painting or covering damp walls and floors, which hides moisture without removing it.
• Throwing away damaged items before photographing them.
• Assuming a dry surface means dry materials underneath.

Summary

Make the area safe, stop the water, document everything, remove only what you can safely remove, and call a professional when the loss is larger than a small clean spill.

If you are dealing with water damage now, a qualified water damage professional can assess the situation in person, which no article can replace.

Related guides

• How Quickly Should Water Damage Be Cleaned Up?
• What to Do After Heavy Rain Floods Your Home

Sources

• EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
• CDC: Reentering Your Flooded Home
• Florida Department of Financial Services: Insurance Consumer Helpline