What to Do After Water Damage: A Step-by-Step Checklist
The decisions you make in the first 24 hours have the biggest effect on cost, mold risk and your insurance claim.
The first hour
- Stop the sourceShut off the main water valve or the fixture valve.
- Make it safeShut off power to wet rooms if you can reach the panel safely. Avoid sagging ceilings.
- DocumentPhotos and video of the source, the water and damaged items.
- Call for helpA restoration company to start extraction and drying.
The first day
- Call your insurance company and get a claim number
- Move valuables, electronics and documents to a dry area
- Pull up wet area rugs and lift drapes off the floor
- Run the AC to help lower humidity (unless the HVAC system itself is wet)
- Keep receipts for anything you buy and any hotel stays
The first week
- Make sure drying equipment stays running and moisture is checked daily
- Ask for copies of moisture readings and photos for your claim
- Meet the insurance adjuster and walk through the damage together
- Don't start rebuilding until everything tests dry
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting to see if it dries. Water hides in walls and subfloors.
- Throwing things out before photographing them.
- Painting over stains. It hides the problem, not the moisture.
- Turning off drying equipment early because surfaces feel dry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know when everything is really dry?
Restoration companies use moisture meters to compare wet areas against dry reference readings. Surfaces can feel dry while the inside of the wall or subfloor is still wet.
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