The first hour
What you do in the first hour after water gets into your house has a big effect on how much damage it does. Work through these steps in order, and only when it's safe.
1. Stop the water. Close the fixture shutoff or the main water valve if a pipe or appliance is the source. 2. Make the electrical situation safe. If water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the panel, don't walk into it. Switch off power to the affected area at the panel only if you can reach the panel while standing somewhere dry. If you can't, wait for an electrician or the utility. 3. Get people and pets out of affected areas, especially if the water is from a sewer backup or outdoor flooding. 4. Document everything. Take photos and video of the water, the source, and damaged belongings before moving things, for your insurance claim. 5. Move what you can. Lift furniture onto blocks or foil, and move rugs, electronics, papers and valuables to a dry area. 6. Call your insurance company to report the loss, and ask what your policy covers. 7. Call a restoration contractor for anything more than a small, clean spill.
Categories of water
Restoration professionals classify water by how contaminated it is, because that changes how it must be handled:
- Clean water from a supply line, a faucet left running or rainwater coming straight through a window. It's the easiest to deal with, but it doesn't stay clean for long once it sits on floors and in building materials.
- Gray water with some contamination, such as from a washing machine, dishwasher or a toilet overflow without feces.
- Black water that is grossly contaminated, such as sewage backups and outdoor floodwater from rivers and streets. It can carry bacteria, chemicals and debris, and porous materials it touches, such as carpet, pad and drywall, usually need to be removed rather than dried.
Don't try to clean up black water yourself without protective gear, and keep children and pets away.
How water is removed
- Truck-mounted or portable extractors pull standing water out of carpet, pad and hard floors.
- Submersible pumps remove deep water from basements and crawlspaces.
- Wet vacuums handle smaller areas and tight spaces.
- Weighted extraction tools press water out of carpet and pad.
Removing as much liquid water as possible is the fastest way to shorten drying time. Every gallon extracted is a gallon that doesn't have to evaporate.
What gets removed
Some materials can be dried in place; others can't. Carpet pad that has soaked up water is often removed because it holds moisture and is inexpensive to replace. Drywall that has wicked water may be cut a short distance above the wet line so the wall cavity can dry. Insulation that's soaked usually comes out. Anything touched by black water that's porous is generally discarded. A good contractor explains what they're removing and why, and documents it for your insurer.
What to expect from the crew
1. An inspection to find the source, map the wet areas with moisture meters, and classify the water. 2. A written scope of work and an explanation of how billing works, including whether they bill your insurer directly. 3. Extraction and removal of materials that can't be saved. 4. Setup of drying equipment and a schedule of daily moisture checks. 5. Documentation with photos and moisture readings.
Questions to ask
- What category of water is this, and what does that mean for my materials?
- What will you remove, and why?
- How will you document the job for my insurance company?
- Will you bill the insurer directly, and what am I responsible for?
- Who handles rebuilding once everything is dry?