Water damage is one of the most stressful things a homeowner can face — especially when it happens suddenly at 2am from a burst pipe or during a storm. What you do in the first 24 hours can save you thousands of dollars and prevent mold from taking hold.
Step 1: Ensure Your Safety First
Before anything else, make sure the situation is safe. If there's any chance of electrical hazards from water near outlets, breaker panels, or appliances, stay out and call your utility company first. If the water is from a sewage backup, it's a biohazard — don't touch it without protective equipment.
Step 2: Stop the Source (If Possible)
If a pipe burst, turn off your water main immediately. Every minute the water flows, the damage gets worse. Your water shut-off is typically near the water meter, often in the garage, utility room, or outside near the curb. Know where yours is before an emergency happens.
Step 3: Document Everything Before Touching It
Take photos and video of every affected area before you move anything. Walk through the entire house — water travels and often affects areas far from the source. Your insurance company will want this documentation, and so will we when we write your claim estimate.
Step 4: Call a Professional Restoration Company
Call us immediately — not after you've tried to clean it up yourself. DIY water extraction with a shop vac misses the moisture trapped in walls, subfloor, and insulation. This hidden moisture leads to mold within 24–48 hours. Professional equipment (truck-mounted extractors, thermal cameras, commercial dehumidifiers) is necessary to actually dry the structure.
Step 5: Contact Your Insurance Company
Open a claim as soon as possible. You can do this while we're on our way. We'll help you with the claim documentation and communicate directly with your adjuster — so you don't have to navigate the process alone.
What NOT to Do
- Don't use a household fan or hair dryer — these don't reach structural moisture
- Don't throw damaged items away before documentation
- Don't wait to call — every hour increases mold risk and repair costs
- Don't turn on HVAC systems that may have been affected by water
Call Central Florida Disaster Recovery — 24/7
We're available around the clock for water damage emergencies across Orlando and Central Florida. Ryan answers every call personally — call 321-420-7274 now.