What Should You Do Before Water Damage Cleanup Starts?
Stay safe, stop the water at the shutoff, take photos of everything, lift small items out of the water and call a cleanup crew. Leave soaked carpet, wet drywall and sewage for the crew. The steps take minutes and make the dry-out smaller and the claim easier.
Make the Space Safe First
Water and electricity do not mix, and a wet room can hide live wiring. If water reaches outlets or an appliance, shut off that circuit at the panel, but only from a dry spot. When in doubt, wait for an electrician.
Look up as well as down. A ceiling that bulges or drips is holding water and can fall. Keep people out from under it.
- Do not wade through water that touches outlets, cords or appliances
- Skip the household vacuum and any plugged-in tool near the water
- Leave the room if you smell gas, and call 911 from outside
- Keep kids and pets out of any water that may be contaminated
- Wear boots and gloves if you must enter a wet area
Water Damage Services That Fit This Question
-
Emergency 24-Hour Water Damage Cleanup
Extraction and drying at any hour for burst pipes, floods and overflows that cannot wait until morning.
-
Burst Pipe Water Damage Cleanup
Pumping, drying and documentation for walls, ceilings and floors soaked by a pipe that split.
-
Category 3 Black Water Damage Cleanup
Containment, extraction, tear-out and sanitizing after sewage, toilet backups and contaminated flood water.
Stop the Water at the Source
Find the shutoff for the pipe, fixture or appliance and close it. If that fails or the source is unclear, close the main valve where the supply enters the house.
Stopping the water is the plumber's first step too. After that, the plumber repairs the pipe and the cleanup crew removes what the water already soaked. The two jobs can run side by side.
Document Before You Move Anything
Photos and short videos are the cheapest part of an insurance claim. Shoot the source, the wet rooms, the stained ceilings and the damaged items before anything is moved or thrown out.
Write down the time you found the water and the time you stopped it. Keep a few damaged samples, such as a piece of wet flooring, in a bag.
- Wide shots and close shots of each wet room
- The label or brand of the failed appliance or hose
- Water lines on walls and furniture
- A list of damaged belongings with rough values
Protect What Can Be Saved
Small items, papers, electronics and rugs can move to a dry room or a raised shelf. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs so the wood does not stain the carpet.
Leave the big jobs alone. Soaked carpet, heavy furniture, wet drywall and anything touched by sewage go to the crew, who has the gear and the protective equipment. Open windows only if the weather helps, and leave fans and dehumidifiers to the drying team.
When to Leave First and Clean Later
Some situations call for stepping out before anything else. A fast exit is worth more than any belongings, and the call for help can be made from the yard.
Do not return to the room until the hazard is gone. The crew checks it with the right gear before work begins.
- Water near the electrical panel or around a sparking outlet
- A ceiling that bulges, sags or cracks
- Sewage or a strong sewage smell
- A gas smell or a hissing sound
- Standing water that keeps rising
Start the Dry-Out Now (888) 480-6221
More Water Damage Questions
What Should You Do Before Water Damage Cleanup Starts: More Answers
Should I try to dry the room before the crew arrives?
Stick to mopping up pooled water if the room is safe. Skip the heat and the household fans, since the crew places equipment from the moisture map.
Do I need to clean up sewage myself?
No. Sewage is Category 3 water, and it needs protective gear and removal of porous materials. Keep everyone out and let the crew handle it.
What should I do with soaked belongings?
Photograph them first. Then move what is safe to lift to a dry area and leave the rest. The crew will list what cannot be saved for the claim.
Can I stay home while I wait for the crew?
Often yes, if the dry rooms are safe and the power is off in wet areas. Leave if there is sewage, a sagging ceiling or any gas smell.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get water damage cleanup started, 24/7.