What to Do Before Water Mitigation Starts
Make the area safe, stop the water at the source, protect what you can reach and take photos before anything moves. Then call (888) 664-3027 and describe the damage. Leave tear-out, pumping and the drying equipment to the crew.
Make the Area Safe First
Water and electricity do not mix, and a wet house hides hazards. People come before property, so check the room before reaching for a mop.
If anyone is in danger from rising water, gas or live wiring, call 911 first and leave the building.
- Stay out of standing water that touches outlets, cords or appliances
- Switch off the breaker from a dry spot, or leave it to an electrician
- Keep clear of ceilings that bulge, drip or sag
- Keep children and pets away from sewage or flood water
- Wear rubber boots and gloves only after the power to the room is off
Water Damage Services That Fit This Question
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Emergency 24-Hour Water Mitigation
Emergency extraction and drying for water that strikes at night, on weekends and on holidays.
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Burst Pipe Water Mitigation
Pump-out and drying for homes where a split pipe has soaked walls, ceilings, floors or a basement below.
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Flooded Basement Water Mitigation
Pump-out, removal and drying for finished and unfinished basements flooded by rain, pipes, appliances or power loss.
Stop the Water at the Source
Every minute of flow adds to the damage. Find the shutoff closest to the leak and close it. If nothing else works, shut the main valve where the supply enters the house.
The plumber fixes the pipe afterward. Closing a valve is something anyone can do, and it keeps the loss from growing while help is on the way.
If the shutoff is stuck or underwater, do not force it with a tool that could snap a pipe. Close the main valve instead and let the plumber deal with the stuck one.
- Close the fixture stop under a sink or toilet
- Close the valve at an appliance such as a washer or water heater
- Close the main shutoff if the source is unknown
- Shut the supply valve on a failed washer, dishwasher or ice maker line
- Roof or window leak: set a bucket and keep people clear
Protect What You Can Reach
Lift small items out of the water before they soak. Rugs, electronics, books, papers and photos are the first to go.
Leave heavy furniture and soaked carpet for the crew. Dragging wet furniture across a floor can scar it, and wet carpet is heavy and awkward to move.
- Move small valuables and electronics to dry rooms
- Pull papers, books and photos out of the water
- Place foil or plastic under furniture legs on wet carpet
- Open cabinet doors to let air in, only if the cabinet is dry inside
- Leave wet drywall, insulation and flooring in place
Document the Damage and Make the Call
Photos taken before cleanup show what the water did. Wide shots of each room and close-ups of the damage help the claim, and so does a note of when you first saw the water.
Then call (888) 664-3027, which works 24/7. Give the address, the cause, the rooms that are wet and whether the water is still running.
- Photograph each wet room from the doorway
- Take close-ups of the damage and the water source
- Write down the time you found the water and the time you shut it off
- Save receipts for anything you buy for the emergency
- Have the address and a callback number ready
Reach 24/7 Dispatch Now (888) 664-3027
More Water Damage Questions
What to Do Before Water Mitigation Starts: More Answers
Should I start cleaning before the crew arrives?
Only with safe, simple steps: stop the source, move small items and take photos. Pulling up carpet, cutting drywall or running a household vacuum on wet floors can make things worse or hide evidence for the claim.
Can I use a wet vac in the meantime?
On a small spill, a wet vac that is plugged into a dry outlet away from the water can lift surface water. Do not use it in deep water or near wet electrical gear.
Should I turn off the power to the whole house?
If water is reaching outlets, the panel or appliances, yes, and an electrician should look before power comes back. If you cannot reach the breaker without stepping in water, stay out and call for help.
What if the water looks clean?
Clean-looking water can still soak into pad, drywall and framing, and it can turn into Category 2 after a day. Treat it as urgent anyway, because mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours.
Is it okay to run fans or a space heater?
Fans help only after the source is stopped and the power is safe, and they should not blow contaminated air through the house. Skip space heaters near wet floors. The crew brings equipment sized to the loss.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get water mitigation started, 24/7.