You are finally home after the storm, you step onto the carpet, and it squishes. Water damage is hard because most of it hides: under the floors, behind the drywall, inside the insulation. And it is a race against time, because wet materials need to be dried within a day or two to help prevent mold. This guide covers what to do first, where water hides, the photos to take, what water damage restoration pros do, and how to get bids from verified local pros fast.
First: stay safe
- Power and water do not mix. If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, do not touch them. Have the power shut off by your utility or an electrician.
- Smell gas? Leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
- Floodwater can carry sewage and chemicals. Wear rubber boots and gloves, and keep children and pets away from it.
- Sagging ceilings and soft floors can give way. Stay out from under and off of them.
Where water hides
| Where | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Under floors | Cupping wood, lifting vinyl or laminate, a soft or bouncy feel |
| Behind drywall | A water line, bubbling paint, soft spots near the bottom of walls |
| Carpet pad | Carpet that looks dry on top but squishes underfoot |
| Cabinets | Swollen cabinet bottoms and toe kicks under sinks and on outside walls |
| Insulation and ceilings | Stains, sagging and a musty smell |
Why the first 24 to 48 hours matter
Federal flood cleanup guidance says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold. That is why getting the water out and the drying started quickly matters more than almost anything else. If you cannot get a pro there today, start what you safely can: lift rugs, move furniture off wet floors, open windows if it is dry outside, and run fans and a dehumidifier if the power is safe.
Take photos before anything goes to the curb
Before you throw anything out, photograph it: each room, the water line on the walls, wet floors and carpet, damaged furniture, appliances and belongings, and any model or serial numbers. Short videos walking through each room help too. Keep receipts for fans, dehumidifiers, cleanup supplies and anything you pay for. Then save what matters: move photos, papers and keepsakes somewhere dry and high.
What water damage restoration pros do
- Inspect and measure: find where the water went with moisture meters and thermal cameras.
- Extract the water: pumps and truck-mounted or portable extractors.
- Dry it out: air movers and dehumidifiers, checked every day until readings are dry.
- Remove what cannot be dried: wet drywall cut out low on the wall, carpet pad, insulation.
- Clean and treat for mold where it has started.
- Put it back: new drywall, paint, floors and cabinets, or the pros who do that work.
Clean water, gray water, floodwater
Pros sort water damage by where the water came from. Clean water from a broken supply line is the easiest to dry. Water from a storm leak can pick up dirt on the way in. Floodwater from rising water outside is treated as contaminated, so more materials usually need to be removed. Tell pros where your water came from so the bids cover the right work.
Insurance: what to know
Call your insurance company soon and ask what they need from you. Coverage depends on your policy and on where the water came from: flooding from rising water is usually covered by a separate flood policy, not standard homeowners insurance, while rain coming through a storm-damaged roof may be handled differently. Your photos, receipts and a written scope from your restoration pro help everyone see the same damage.
What to put in your post
- Where the water came from: roof leak, rising water, a pipe
- Which rooms and floors got wet, and roughly how high the water was
- When it happened, and whether anything is drying yet
- Photos of each room and the water line
- Whether you also need a roof tarp, drywall, flooring or junk removal
Questions to ask a restoration pro
- How will you find all the wet areas, and will you share the moisture readings?
- What has to be removed, and what can be dried in place?
- How long will the equipment run, and how often will you check it?
- Do you also rebuild, or should I post that separately?
- Do you carry insurance, and any license my state requires for mold work?
Get water damage restoration bids on BidHandyman
Post your job free with photos and say how urgent it is. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid. Compare the bids, message the pros and hire the one you like, with no obligation, and get your home feeling like home again. Post your water damage job, or read about hurricane roof damage, storm damage repair and drywall repair.