What should I do first after water damage in my house?
Make it safe first: stay out of standing water near electrical equipment, and do not touch anything wet that is plugged in. Then stop the source, such as a burst pipe or a leaking appliance, photograph everything, and call your insurer. Start drying right away, because EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Check that it is safe to be there
Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.[1] If water is near outlets or the panel, stay out and call for help.
Step 2: Stop the source
Shut off the water at the fixture or the main valve, or stop the appliance that is leaking, if you can reach it without standing in water.
Step 3: Photograph before you touch anything
Take photographs to show the way things look before you begin cleaning and repairing.[4]
Step 4: Call your insurer
Contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible.[4] Ask what emergency clean-up and temporary repairs they will cover.
Step 5: Get people and valuables out of the wet area
Move furniture, electronics and papers to a dry room. Keep anything you think is a complete loss for the adjuster to see.[4]
Step 6: Remove standing water and start drying
Mop, wet-vacuum and open windows, and run fans and a dehumidifier. Aim to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours.[2]
Step 7: Protect yourself while you work
Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots, and a face covering if you clean mold or other debris.[1]
Step 8: Keep every receipt
Keep receipts for all of your clean-up expenses.[4]
Step 9: Decide what a pro should handle
Call a restoration company if the water was sewage, if walls or ceilings are soaked, or if you cannot dry the area in time.
Make the house safe first, then stop the water, document the damage, call your insurer and start drying. In that order, and quickly: EPA says it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.[2]
Safety comes before cleanup
Water and electricity are the first danger. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.[1] Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.[1] If the panel is in the wet area, or water is covering outlets, stay out and call your electric utility or a licensed electrician.
If the water came from outside or from a sewer, treat it as contaminated. Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris.[1] People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled.[1]
Stop the source
If a supply line burst or an appliance is leaking, shut off the water at the fixture's valve or at the main shutoff, whichever you can reach dry. Learn where the main valve is before you need it. If the water is coming through the roof or the foundation, you cannot stop it yourself, but you can limit the damage by moving belongings away and catching drips.
Document it, then call your insurer
Take photographs to show the way things look before you begin cleaning and repairing, and be sure to keep receipts for all of your clean-up expenses.[4] Video of each room helps. You should contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible.[4]
Most homeowners policies cover the reasonable costs of emergency clean-up and temporary repairs.[4] That is why the order matters: ask what the insurer wants before you hire anyone for major work. Keep damaged items, because you should not dispose of any items that you believe may be a complete loss until the company representative has examined them.[4] One caution: standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage.[4] Water that rose from outside is usually a flood-policy matter, so check your coverage early.
Dry everything fast
The drying window is short. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.[2] In practice:
- Remove standing water with a mop or a wet-dry vacuum.
- Open windows when the weather allows, and run fans and a dehumidifier.
- Lift wet rugs and move furniture off wet floors. Prop up wet cushions and pull wet books and papers apart.
- Take out soaked, loose items such as bedding and clothing for washing or drying.
Some materials will not recover. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.[3] If you suspect mold, do not run the heating and cooling system: do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.[3]
Protect yourself while you work. Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during cleanup and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.[1]
Stop and call a pro if
- Water is near outlets, the panel or wet appliances. Stay out and call your utility or a licensed electrician.
- The water was sewage or other contaminated water. EPA's advice is that if the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.[3]
- A ceiling is sagging or bulging with trapped water. Keep people out from under it and call a pro.
- Walls, subfloor or insulation are soaked, or you cannot get them dry inside the drying window.
- You see or smell mold. Read what professional mold remediation involves and how mold remediation is licensed in Virginia.
Getting help in Virginia
When the damage is more than you can dry yourself, see what water damage restoration costs in Virginia and how to choose a restoration company. Browse restoration services or read more restoration answers.
When you are ready, describe the damage once and licensed local businesses quote it.
Common questions
- How fast do I need to dry a water-damaged house?
- Within 24 to 48 hours. EPA says it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth, and that if wet or damp materials are dried in that time, in most cases mold will not grow.
- Should I call my insurance company before cleaning up?
- Call as soon as possible, and photograph the damage before you begin cleaning and repairing. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance says most homeowners policies cover the reasonable costs of emergency clean-up and temporary repairs, so keep your receipts.
- Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
- Usually not. The Bureau of Insurance says standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Check your policy, and ask your agent whether you have a separate flood policy.
- Can I throw away wet carpet and ceiling tiles right away?
- Tell your insurer first and keep what may be a complete loss until the adjuster has seen it, or photograph it thoroughly. EPA notes that absorbent or porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy, so do not wait on wet ones.
- Is it safe to turn the power off myself?
- Only if it is safe to do so. Ready.gov says to turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe, and never to touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If the panel is in the wet area, call your utility or a licensed electrician.
Sources
- [1] Floods, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Mold Cleanup in Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] When Disaster Strikes: Insured Homeowner's Loss, Bureau of Insurance, Virginia State Corporation Commission. Checked October 27, 2026.
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