What to Do After Water Damage is Discovered and Why Act Fast
The water damage restoration process should begin within 24 hours
Above all, keep yourself and your family safe. Belongings and structures can be replaced.
Stop or slow the source of the water, if possible.
The earlier you start the restoration process, the easier and more affordable your solution will be.
You can DIY some aspects of the job, but you’ll likely need to call in a professional for help.
Water damage can ruin your home faster than you might think. Within the first 24 hours of a leak or flood, mold development, damage to floors, walls, and electrical components, and even structural issues can occur. Whether you’re dealing with a leaky pipe or a flooded basement, identifying the source and stopping any further water escaping is a top priority. This is why it’s always best to hire a local water damage restoration company immediately to make any repairs and protect your home.
When water damage is discovered, turn off the power and disconnect all electronic devices from any affected area.
What Causes Water Damage?
There are a whole lot of issues that cause water damage, some sudden and some over time. Below are some of the most common causes of water damage:
Flooding of any kind, especially from a natural disaster.
Inclement weather, especially if you have small cracks in the roof or if severe winds blow out a window or a related fixture.
Leaks of any kind are especially dangerous as they often occur behind the walls, leading to copious damage before you notice it. Common leak sources include rusty and corroded pipes, high water pressure, extreme temperatures, broken water connectors, and more.
Sewage back up coming from your pipes and pouring out through your water fixtures.
Clogged gutters can overflow over time, leading to water damage.
Faulty or malfunctioning appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
How Bad Is Water Damage?
There’s no easy way around this. Water damage is bad and leads to all kinds of related consequences. First, there’s the water damage itself, which erodes building materials, appliances, fixtures, and furniture as it sits and pools, with electronics being especially susceptible to damage or even short-circuiting.
Then, there’s mold. Mold and mildew thrive with water damage and are a particular concern when the moisture hides behind walls and in other difficult-to-reach areas. To top it off, depending on where the water came from, water damage leads to health concerns, as sitting water often features all manner of germs and bacteria.
Steps to Take When There Is Water Damage
When there’s a flood or major leak, there are some immediate practical and safety considerations. It’s important to work quickly since water damage can worsen with time, and mold can begin growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Mold can be a serious health risk and water damage can compromise your home’s structural integrity, so don’t waste time addressing the damage.
1. Stop the Water Source
To prevent further damage, identify the source of the water leak and use the appropriate shut-off valve to stop the flow of water. If the water isn’t stopped, the damage will get worse the longer the water is flowing.
2. Turn Off the Breaker
Electricity and water are a very dangerous combination. Turn off the breaker at the box, but only if you can safely access it. If the breaker box is located near the water damage, call the utility company and ask them to turn off the power from their end or send someone out to safely shut it off at your house.
3. Leave the House
After severe water damage, it may not be safe to stay in your home, particularly for pets, children, the elderly, or anyone with compromised health. Leave your home until you can get a qualified expert to assess the damage and let you know when it’s safe to return.
4. Call Your Insurance Company
Many homeowners insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, so contact your insurance company to start the claim process and find out what documentation you need to provide.
5. Hire a Pro
If the water damage comes from sewage, or if the water is gray or black, hire a water damage restoration company that specializes in hazardous cleanup. For severe water damage of any kind, a local water damage restoration pro can determine the class of water damage, identify affected materials, and restore the damaged area to its original condition.
6. Dry the Area
If the water damage is severe, call a water damage restoration pro who will use industrial equipment to quickly dry out the affected area. For more minor water damage, you can dry the area yourself to prevent mold and other damage.
Use fans, dehumidifiers, wet/dry vacs, and even air conditioners to remove moisture.
Open windows and doors to maximize ventilation.
Remove saturated objects and let them dry outdoors or dispose of them if they’re not salvageable.
7. Replace Damaged Materials
Porous material can be quickly damaged by water, so you may need to replace affected material even after a short exposure to water.
Carpets can develop mold after water exposure, so replace carpets and padding after any water damage.
Saturated drywall can compromise your walls and ceilings. Replace affected sections of drywall to maintain structural integrity.
Wood that’s been exposed to water is prone to rot and collapse. Repair or replace water-logged wood.
How Quickly Does Water Damage Progress?
Even a seemingly harmless, small leak can be problematic. Water spreads rapidly and absorbs into floors, walls, soft furnishings, and more. If you leave water damage too long, your insurance may not cover it, and the cost of water damage to your home could be hefty. Everything from signs of basement water damage to musty odors should be investigated by a professional as quickly as possible to avoid devastation.
Within the First 24 Hours
As a leak or flood spreads, it will soak everything in its vicinity. This means that personal belongings, such as books and photographs, can immediately bulge and warp beyond repair. Soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, and walls and floors will begin to absorb the water. Drywall, furniture, wooden doors, and window frames can swell. Plus, paint or wallpaper can peel or blister, corrode electrical systems, or worse—cause short circuits and electrical fires.
If the leak is in your roof, the water could come through ceilings and cause damage to insulation and wooden beams. Most worryingly, though, mold can begin to develop within the first 24 hours of a water damage incident.
Within the First Week
After that initial day, the water damage will develop further. Mold can spread rapidly, and the site can become a biohazard. The damage to wood surfaces and walls intensifies, and metal surfaces can start corroding.
After a Week
If you leave water damage for more than a week, the timescales, costs, and effort involved in any restoration work will increase significantly. Mold will also spread dramatically, and the risks associated with structural damage are greater.
Can You DIY Water Damage Restoration Work?
If you’ve only experienced a small leak under your sink, for example, it is easy enough to remove all the items affected by water damage to assess them for salvageability. Then, drying out the space is just a matter of using the proper tools and time.
However, if the water damage is near the breaker box, appliances, or electrical outlets, call in an experienced pro to ensure safety. The same goes for major water damage, no matter the location. Restoration contractors can easily assess if there is any hidden damage that requires repairs.
Keep in mind that your homeowner’s insurance company may also only pay for the damages if the repairs are carried out by a certified professional. Speak with your insurance provider before proceeding to avoid surprise charges and coverage denials.
How to Prevent Water Damage Around Your Home
While you can’t prepare for natural disasters, you can take a few preventative measures to avoid some water damage to your house. Follow these essential steps to keep water from invading your home.
Keep your gutters clean. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up into your home. Installing gutter guards can help keep debris out of your gutters.
Inspect your chimney. Have an annual chimney inspection to look for cracks, loose mortar, or potential leaks. Repair any damage as soon as possible.
Waterproof your basement or crawl space. Waterproofing your basement can minimize water damage and protect your foundation.
Install a sump pump. Sump pumps remove water from the lowest point of your home, preventing flooding and keeping your basement dry.
Inspect your roof. Roof leaks can cause significant water damage, so inspect your roof annually to identify and repair any potential problems.
Caulk cracks. Filling any cracks or gaps around windows and doors with fresh caulk will prevent water from entering your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several problems that can happen if you don’t treat water damage. One of the most severe issues that can occur is the weakening of your home's structural integrity. Once the wood in your home absorbs water, it can rot and possibly collapse. Untreated water damage can also ruin your electrical systems, corrode plumbing, destroy your ceilings and walls, and cause mold growth. A less serious but unpleasant consequence is floor warping. Can standing water damage the foundation? Yes, pressure and water absorption from standing water can cause foundational cracking, swelling, and lifting.
You don’t need much water to cause damage, though this depends largely on the affected areas. Hardwood floors, for instance, can get damaged with any amount of pooling water left to sit for a day or so, leading to buckling planks and other repair issues. Drywall fares a bit better, as there are processes to dry it out, but if the components retain more than 1% moisture, you’ll need to replace them. With ceiling water damage, having plaster ceilings instead of drywall ceilings could buy you slightly more time because plaster is more resistant to water.
In many cases, water damage will dry on its own within a few weeks. However, just because the water dries out doesn't mean you should ignore it. If you don't address water damage immediately, it can lead to mold growth and other problems with your home. In severe cases, water damage can compromise your home's or foundation's structural integrity, so it's best to tackle it head-on, even if you believe the water has dried up.
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- What Does Water Damage Look Like? Key Warning Signs
- Complete Guide to the Water Damage Restoration Process
- Who to Call for Home Flooding Problems
- How Mold and Water Damage Affect Paint
- 7 Reasons Why Water Is Rising Through Your Floor—And How to Fix Them
- Understanding the Categories of Water Damage
- 10 Things to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your Home
- What to Do When Your Basement Floods From Rain: 11 Tips
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