What to Do in the First Hour After Water Damage
☎ Call (469) 747-1932Request help onlineCall any time. Say if water is still coming in.
What to do after water damage comes down to a short list, in order. Print it or save it to your phone before you need it.
1. Stop the water
- Fixture valve: under sinks, behind toilets, behind the washer, under the water heater (the cold inlet line) and behind the fridge for ice makers.
- House main: in many North Texas homes there's a main valve in the garage or where the line enters the house, often near a front hose bib. Turn it clockwise.
- City-side valve: if you can't find or close the house main, the valve in the meter box near the curb can usually be turned with a meter key or adjustable wrench. Call your water utility's after-hours line if you can't.
- Water heater: turn gas units to "pilot" or "vacation," or switch off the breaker for electric units, if the main will stay off for a while.
2. Make it safe
- Don't walk into standing water if it's near outlets, cords, a power strip or the electrical panel. Shut off breakers only if you can reach the panel standing on a dry floor.
- Stay out from under ceilings that sag or bulge.
- Treat toilet overflows, sewer backups and floodwater as contaminated: gloves, boots, and keep kids and pets away.
3. Document before you clean
- Photos and video of the source (the failed part, the pipe, the stain), the water, and every damaged room and item.
- Keep the failed part if a plumber removes it.
- Write down when you found it and when you stopped it.
4. Protect your things
- Move furniture off wet carpet, or put foil or wood blocks under the legs.
- Lift rugs, curtains and anything on the floor.
- Move electronics, documents and photos to a dry room. Lay wet photos face-up to air dry.
- Open interior doors and cabinet doors in the wet area.
5. Call your insurer and a water damage crew
Report the loss to your insurance company, ask for a claim number, and ask what they need from you. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which includes starting drying, so you generally don't need to wait for an adjuster to begin mitigation. Keep receipts for everything.
What not to do
- Don't use a household vacuum on water.
- Don't turn on ceiling fans or lights in a room with a wet ceiling.
- Don't paint over stains or put baseboards back before materials are dry.
- Don't sign anything that assigns your insurance claim or says the contractor will handle your claim; Texas law doesn't allow contractors to act as your adjuster.
- Don't accept an offer to waive your deductible. It's illegal in Texas.
Before the next leak
- Find and test your main shutoff now.
- Replace rubber washer hoses and old toilet and sink supply lines with braided ones, and replace those every several years.
- Put inexpensive water sensors near the water heater, washer, fridge and under sinks, or install an automatic shutoff valve.
- Have the attic AC condensate line flushed each spring.
Water where it shouldn't be? Start drying today.
Every hour wet drywall, carpet pad and baseboards sit, the damage spreads and mold gets closer. Call or send a quick request and we'll connect you with an independent water damage crew that covers your city.
☎ Call (469) 747-1932Request help online