Finding water where it should not be is unsettling, and the clock starts the moment you see it. What you do in the first hour often decides whether this becomes a drying job or a rebuild. Damp material can start growing mold in 24 to 48 hours, so moving fast matters more than getting every detail right.
Work through the steps below in order. Then read the list of things not to do, because a few common reactions make the damage worse. Stay calm as you go. Water damage that is handled quickly rarely leads to lasting harm.
Steps To Take After Water Damage
1. Shut Off The Water
If the water is coming from your plumbing, close the main shut off valve first. At Mold Removal Winnipeg, we ask every caller where that valve is, and most people have never looked for it. Find yours today, before you need it. It is usually in the basement near the water meter. Dishwashers, washing machines, and toilets have their own valves behind or under them. If you cannot find the right one, shut off the main.
2. Cut The Power If It Is Safe
Water and electricity are a dangerous pair. If water has reached outlets, cords, or the electrical panel, do not walk into the room. Shut off the breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot. If you cannot, stay out and call an electrician or your utility.
3. Call A Restoration Company
Once the water is stopped, call a water mitigation and restoration company. The sooner extraction and drying begin, the less you lose. A trained crew brings four things a homeowner does not have: the experience to read how far water has travelled, truck mounted extraction equipment, commercial air movers and dehumidifiers, and help managing the insurance claim.
4. Photograph Everything
Before you move or clean anything, take photos and video of the standing water, the wet materials, and the damaged contents. Insurers want to see the damage as it was found. Keep the receipts for anything you buy during the cleanup.
5. Move What You Can
Lift furniture off wet carpet, or slide foil under the legs so the finish does not bleed into it. Carry books, papers, electronics, and anything of value to a dry room. Keep pets away from the wet area, and away from the drying equipment once it is running, because fans and dehumidifiers can injure them.
Not sure how bad it is? Our technicians are on call 24 hours a day. Call (204) 789-1514 and we will tell you what to do while we are on the way.
What You Can Safely Do While You Wait
There is useful work you can do before the crew arrives, as long as the power is off and the water is clean. Mop or towel up standing water. Open windows if the air outside is drier than the air inside. Pull wet rugs off hardwood. Wipe down furniture that only got splashed. Then stop. If the water came from a sewer backup or from outside flooding, leave it alone and wait, because that water carries contaminants.
What Not To Do After Water Damage
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water unless it is rated for wet pickup.
- Do not run appliances that got wet, including the washing machine and the dishwasher.
- Do not walk into a room with standing water while the power to it is still on.
- Do not rely on box fans and a small dehumidifier to dry a soaked wall or subfloor. They dry the surface and leave the inside wet.
- Do not point a fan at visible mold. It pushes spores through the rest of the building.
- Do not throw out damaged items before your insurer or the restoration crew has seen them.
- Do not leave wet material in place and hope it dries. That is how a two day job becomes a mold job.
When To Call A Professional
Call right away if any of this is true: the water covers more than a small area, it has soaked carpet, drywall, or insulation, it came from a sewer line or outside flooding, it has been sitting for more than 24 hours, or you can smell something musty. The moisture inside walls and under floors is the part you cannot find or dry on your own, and it is the part that grows mold and rots framing.
It also helps to know the telltale signs of water damage so you catch the next one sooner, and our guide to water damage restoration walks through what happens after the water is out. If you are looking at wet floors right now, skip the reading and book an inspection through our contact page.
Need Water Removed Today?
Mold Removal Winnipeg answers the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Our IICRC certified technicians extract the water, dry the structure, and restore your home or business, and we work with insurance providers throughout the claim. Call (204) 789-1514 or reach us through our contact page. The sooner we start, the more we save.
