When you notice water somewhere it should not be, it can take your breath away. Take a deep breath. You will save yourself time, money, and even your health if you take a methodical approach. This guide will help you move from panic to a plan over the first critical hours.
First Steps After Water Damage
Your first priority at this moment is to stabilize the scene and prevent further risk or chances of injury. Do not try to fix everything all at once. Take small, practical steps to keep your family safe and record the overall progress for your insurance company.
- Keep children and pets out of the affected rooms.
- Take some quick photos and a short video for documentation before you start moving anything.
- Move valuables, area rugs, and small furniture to a dry location.
- Open doors and closets to promote moisture to escape.
- If the water is visibly dirty or smells like sewage (read more here), evacuate the area and do not allow your skin to touch the water.
You can lay a few bath towels at the thresholds of your doors to help “dam” the water while you are managing other tasks.
Shutting Off the Water Supply
If the water is coming from an inside source in your home—like an exploded pipe, a toilet, dishwasher, or other appliance overflowing or broken supply line—turn the water supply off as quickly as possible. Find your main shutoff valve, which is most often located on the interior exterior wall, in your utility room, or exterior next to the street in front of your meter. Once you find it, turn it off by turning the valve clockwise until it stops.
For leaks from appliances, turn off the small angle valves behind toilets and under sinks, or the braided hoses behind your washer. If you cannot find a valve or it is stuck, contact your utility or a plumber as soon as possible. If you have a well or booster pump, turn off the pump at the breaker to stop pressure from flowing to the leak.
Safety Tips Around Electricity
Water and electricity do not mix. Above all else, your goal is to avoid being shocked or catching on fire while you assess the area. If you see sparks, hear buzzing from outlets, or the ceiling is wet, back out and call an electrician or the fire department.
- Do not step into standing water if power is still on.
- If you can get to the main panel without walking through wet floors, turn off the affected breakers or main.
- Unplug any electronics after power is off and the outlet is dry.
- Avoid ceiling fans and light fixtures when working in damp rooms; wet drywall can collapse.
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call your utility from outdoors.
Check https://safeelectricity.org/safety-tips/be-prepared-for-severe-storms/ for safety tips.
How to Limit Further Damage
After you make sure it is safe to reenter the area, try to remove as much water as you are able to. Use a wet/dry vac, mop, or towels to “blot” soaked surfaces—do not scrub. Place blocks or foil under furniture legs to protect the legs. Remove lightweight area rugs and prop up cushions to encourage airflow.
If the outside humidity is not too high, ventilate the area. Set fan and air conditioner to begin drying the structure. Use airflow in combination with dehumidification services to help suck moisture out of walls, subfloors and framing, and to help delay mold remediation later.
If you are in an area that has been hit hard, search for Houston water damage restoration to have a crew on site the same day and coordinate with your insurance company while you begin to do the initial cleanup. Do not use space heaters or ovens to try to “speed dry.” Excessive heat may warp your floors and push moisture further in.
Calling in Professional Help
Calling a professional will speed things up, and they will have the necessary tools and documentation to make a difference between rebounding quickly with little repair and being stuck with weeks of repairs. Preferably, you want IICRC certified technicians who can extract the water, set up industrial dehumidifiers and have the ability to monitor hidden moisture with thermal imaging.
They will create a drying plan, provide documented readings for your claim, and make recommendations about what can be salvaged versus what must be removed. You want to know the anticipated turnaround time, about how often they communicate with you about your assessment or drying process, or how they complete antimicrobial treatments if contamination is suspected.
With the right partner, able to lead you on the path to drying, cleaning or repairs, you will protect your home’s structure and your peace of mind while getting everything back to normal again.