Key facts: What to do after water damage
- The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold [1].
- Ready.gov advises against walking in floodwater and warns about electrical hazards in wet areas [2].
- The EPA notes that floodwater may contain microorganisms or chemicals that can affect health [3].
- Oregon's Construction Contractors Board provides a public license search for contractors [4].
The first hour
Six things to do in the first hour
- 1
Get safe
If water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the electrical panel, do not walk into it. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. If a ceiling is sagging, keep everyone out from under it.
- 2
Shut off the supply
For a plumbing leak, close the main water shutoff. In many Oregon houses it is near the crawlspace hatch, in the garage or basement, or in a box near the street. For a single fixture, its own valve may be enough. For a water heater, close the cold supply at the top of the tank.
- 3
Cut power to wet areas
If you can reach the breaker panel from a dry spot, turn off circuits serving wet rooms. If the panel is in the wet area, leave it and tell the contractor or call an electrician.
- 4
Take photos and video
Before moving anything, photograph the water, where it came from and damaged items. Wide shots and close-ups both help.
- 5
Move what you can
Lift furniture onto blocks or foil, roll up rugs, move electronics, papers and photos to a dry room.
- 6
Call for help
Call a water damage contractor and, if it is a plumbing failure, a plumber. Tell them what happened, how long ago and what is wet.
Why the order matters
Safety, then the source, then everything else
It is natural to want to start mopping. But the order above is deliberate. Water and electricity together are the real danger in the first minutes, and Ready.gov's flood guidance is clear about avoiding electrical hazards and not walking through floodwater. Once you are safe, stopping the water limits how much damage there is to deal with. Mopping before the source is off is a losing battle.
Photos come before cleanup because once things are moved or thrown out, the evidence is gone. Insurers generally want to see the damage as it was. A minute of phone video can save a lot of back-and-forth later.
Then comes getting the water out and the house drying. The EPA's guidance is to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold. [1] That window is why calling for extraction and drying the same day matters.
Know the water
Is the water clean or contaminated?
| Source | Usually treated as | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Burst supply pipe, faucet or water heater | Clean at first | Safe to handle with care; dry quickly before it degrades |
| Washing machine or dishwasher | Grey water | Wear gloves; porous items may need cleaning or removal |
| Rain through a roof or window | Usually clean to grey | Depends on what it ran through |
| Groundwater or surface water in a basement | Grey to contaminated | Gloves and boots; keep children and pets away |
| Floor drain, toilet or sewer backup | Contaminated (black water) | Stop using water; do not clean it up yourself |
| River or creek floodwater | Contaminated | Stay out; may carry sewage, fuel and chemicals |
The rest of day one
What to do once the water is stopped
Call your insurer or agent to report the loss. Ask whether they want to send an adjuster before cleanup starts and what they need from you. Do not wait for an adjuster to start emergency steps like extraction and drying; most policies expect you to prevent further damage. Keep receipts for anything you buy or pay for.
If water is still standing on floors or in a crawlspace, get it out. For a small clean-water spill on a hard floor, towels and a wet/dry shop vacuum may be enough. For soaked carpet, water under flooring, water in walls or water in a crawlspace or basement, extraction equipment and moisture meters are needed. See water extraction.
Keep the heat on at a normal temperature. In an Oregon winter, a cold house dries slowly. Do not run forced-air heating if the ducts or the air handler got wet or the water was contaminated, until someone has checked them.
If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager in writing as well as by phone.
Avoid these
Common mistakes in the first day
- Using a household vacuum on waterIt is not built for it and is an electrical hazard. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum for small clean spills only.
- Opening windows in a wet Oregon winterCool, damp outdoor air may slow drying rather than help. Dehumidifiers usually work better.
- Throwing things out before photographing themYour insurer may want to see them. Photograph, list, then discard.
- Cleaning sewage yourselfWater from a drain or toilet backup is contaminated and should be handled by professionals.
- Painting or covering wet areasTrapping moisture behind paint, new flooring or furniture invites mold.
- Assuming it will dry on its ownWater inside walls, under floors and in crawlspaces often does not, at least not before mold starts.
Days two and three
Keeping drying on track for the next 48 hours
Once professional drying equipment is in, leave it running. It is noisy, but turning it off at night slows everything down. Keep doors and windows as the crew set them.
Ask the contractor what readings they are taking and how they will know when things are dry. A good crew will take readings each visit and adjust equipment as areas dry. See how long drying takes for typical timelines.
Watch for musty smells, new stains or paint bubbling. Those can mean water reached places that were not found at first. Tell the contractor right away.
Oregon notes
First steps that are different in an Oregon home
Many Oregon houses have crawlspaces. If water leaked through the floor, look from the crawlspace hatch, but do not crawl in if water may be near wiring. Water under the house is easy to miss and important to deal with; see crawlspace water damage.
In a winter cold snap, a burst pipe often leaks when the thaw comes. After closing the main, open a low faucet to drain the remaining pressure, and check other exposed pipes for cracks before turning the water back on.
During a long wet spell, basements and crawlspaces can take on groundwater. Redirect downspouts away from the foundation if you can do it safely, and check the sump pump if you have one.
Choosing help
Picking a contractor when you are under pressure
Even in a hurry, take a minute to check the contractor's Oregon Construction Contractors Board license online. Ask how they will measure moisture and how they decide when the job is dry. A contractor who explains that plainly usually documents their work well.
This site is a referral service. When you call, you are connected with an independent local contractor on the same call, and anything you arrange is between you and them.
Questions
First-hours questions
What is the very first thing to do when water damage happens?
Make sure you are safe from electricity and gas, then stop the water at its source or the main shutoff.
Should I wait for the insurance adjuster before cleaning up?
Report the loss right away, but do not wait to start emergency steps like extraction and drying. Photograph everything first and keep receipts.
How fast does a house need to be dried?
The EPA advises drying within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold.
Can I stay in my house after water damage?
Usually, for a clean-water leak, if the power is safe and the affected area is contained. For sewage or major flooding, staying elsewhere may be wiser.
Do I need a plumber or a water damage company?
Often both: a plumber fixes the leak and a restoration contractor dries the house. Some companies do both.