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Water coming in? Do these five things, in this order.

Written by a crew that gets these calls at 2 a.m. The first hour decides whether this is a cleanup or a rebuild.

  1. 1

    Stop the water

    Close the main shutoff (usually where the line enters the house, or at the meter). For an appliance or fixture, close the supply valve behind it. If a pipe burst because of freezing, leave the main off and open a faucet to relieve pressure.

  2. 2

    Make it safe

    Water near outlets, a panel, or appliances means breaker off before you step in. Do not run a wet shop vac from a wet floor without GFCI protection. Sewage or outdoor flood water: gloves, boots, and keep kids and pets out.

  3. 3

    Document everything

    Photos and video of every room, the source, and the water line on the walls before you move anything. Keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them. Most policies cover sudden water damage; few cover slow leaks.

  4. 4

    Remove water and start airflow

    Extract standing water with a pump or wet/dry vac. Pull rugs and wet carpet pad (pad never dries in place). Open cabinet doors and closets. Run every fan you own along the wet walls and a dehumidifier in the closed room.

  5. 5

    Get professional drying within 24–48 hours

    Mold starts in 48 hours; drywall, subfloor and framing hold water you cannot see. A crew brings moisture meters, air movers and LGR dehumidifiers, and documents the drying for your insurer. Use the form here and a licensed contractor will call you.

Can I dry it myself?

Sometimes. A clean-water leak caught within a day, under about 150 square feet, on a hard floor, with the water line under six inches on the drywall, is a DIY job if you have enough airflow and a real dehumidifier. Use the drying planner to size it. Anything involving sewage, outdoor water, hardwood, more than 48 hours, or wicking above two feet is not.

What a restoration company actually does

Moisture mapping with pin and pinless meters and a thermal camera; controlled demolition of what cannot be dried; extraction; placement of air movers and low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers sized to the room; daily readings until materials hit dry standard; antimicrobial treatment where needed; and documentation your insurer accepts. Expect three to five days of drying for a typical loss.

Requests from this page are matched through HelpMeNow.com, which the DryHomeLab team operates; a vetted local contractor calls you back. We may receive a fee when you hire one.