What to Do After Water Damage: First-Hour Checklist

Checklist

Step by step

Tick each one off as you go. Safety steps come first for a reason.

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NowRight nowStop the water and stay safe

Shut off the main water valveIt’s usually where the water line enters the house, near the water heater or in the basement. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops, or a lever a quarter turn. Cut the power only from a dry spotSafetyIf outlets, cords or appliances are wet, turn off the main breaker only if you can reach it without stepping into water. Otherwise, call an electrician to do it. Never touch electrical things while standing in water. Keep people out of unsafe roomsSafetyStay out from under sagging ceilings; wet drywall is heavy. Treat sewage as unsafe to touch, and keep children and pets away from it.

First hourDocument it and protect what you can

Photograph and film everythingWide shots of each room, then close-ups of the damage, the water line on walls and the source, before anything is moved or thrown out. Move valuables off the floorLift what you can onto shelves or into dry rooms. Your insurer can deny a claim if you don’t protect your property. Report it to your insurerCall the claims line with your policy number, get a claim number and ask what they need from you. The script below helps.

TodayGet the drying started

Get the drying startedThe EPA says to dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. For more than a small spill, call a water damage company, and get the price in writing before work starts. Remove standing water if it’s safeOnly clean water, and only once the power in that area is off. Use towels, a mop or a wet-dry shop vacuum. Start a logWrite down who you spoke to and when, the claim number and the adjuster’s contact details. Keep every receipt for anything you buy to stop the damage.

This weekKeep an eye on the drying

Ask for the daily drying logEquipment is billed by the day. Moisture readings each day show when materials were dry and the equipment could come out. Watch for moldA musty smell or spots on walls after a few days means something is still wet. Tell the drying company and your adjuster.

Insurance call

What to tell your insurer

Have this in front of you when you call. Write down every answer, and the name of everyone you talk to.

On the call

Your policy number, and the date and time the water started.If you don’t know exactly, give your best estimate and say so.
Where the water came from and what it damaged.Say what you saw: a burst pipe, a leaking appliance, water through the ceiling.
What you’ve done so far to stop the damage.Policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage.
Ask: what’s my claim number, and when will the adjuster call?
Ask: can I hire a drying company now, and do I have to use yours?Washington’s insurance commissioner says you have the right to pick your own; other states say the same.
Ask: if we can’t stay here, does my policy cover a hotel, and for how long?

Mistakes

What not to do

These are the ones that cost people money or make a claim harder.

Don’t throw out damaged things yet. Your adjuster may need to see them. Photograph them and set them aside, unless they’re a health hazard.
Don’t run the heating or air conditioning if water got into it. A flooded system can spread mold through the house. Have it checked first.
Don’t make permanent repairs yet. Your insurer may not pay for repairs it didn’t authorize. Temporary fixes to stop the damage are fine; keep the receipts.
Don’t sign anything you haven’t read. An assignment of benefits can let a contractor settle your claim with the insurer without you. You don’t need one to get the work done.

Cost

What it will cost

One room with gray water usually lands in this range, from drying through repairs. Clean water caught early costs less; sewage costs more. The full guide shows what moves the price.

Drying and repairsOne 200 sq ft room, Category 2 water

$3,650–$7,850

Midpoint $5,750