Water Damage Guides

Practical, safety-first information for the hours and days after a leak or flood.

All guides

What to Do After Water Damage: The First 24 Hours

After water damage, get to safety first, stop the water if you can do it safely, document everything with photos, remove small valuables, and start drying within 24 to 48 hours.

How Long Does Water Damage Take to Dry?

With professional equipment, many residential water losses dry in about three to five days.

How to Find and Shut Off Your Main Water Valve

The main water shutoff is usually where the water line enters the home — in a basement, crawl space, utility room, garage or near the water heater — or in a meter box near the street.

An outlet near standing water with a warning sign

Water Damage and Electrical Safety

Never enter standing water if outlets, cords or appliances may be energized.

Clean, Gray and Black Water: Water Damage Categories Explained

Restoration professionals commonly group water by contamination level: clean water from supply lines, gray water with some contamination such as washing machine discharge, and heavily contaminated water such as sewage or outside flood water.

A clipboard and camera documenting damage

Documenting Water Damage for an Insurance Claim

Photograph and video the damage and the source before cleanup, keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise, save every receipt, and ask our restoration team for moisture logs and photos.

Signs of Hidden Water Damage

Hidden water damage often shows up as a musty odor, stains or bubbling paint, soft or warped flooring, loose tiles, or a water bill that rises without explanation.

Sump Pump Failure: What to Do When the Basement Floods

If a sump pump stops during rain, check that it has power, that the float is not stuck and that the discharge line is clear — but only if you can reach it without standing in water near electricity.

Wet Carpet: Can It Be Saved or Does It Need Replacing?

Carpet wet with clean water and dried quickly can often be saved, though the pad is frequently replaced.

Dealing with water damage right now?

Call our restoration team. We extract water, dry the structure and document everything for your insurance.

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