Hour-by-hour guide
Times are approximate; adapt to your situation.
- First minutes
- Make the area safe. Stop the source if you can reach it. Keep away from water near electricity. Leave if you smell gas.
- Within the first hour or so
- Photograph and record before you move things. Lift items off wet floors. Call your insurer or agent.
- Early hours
- Remove standing water that is safe to handle. Contact one or more drying contractors and confirm availability for your address.
- Midday
- Open closets and cabinets that touch wet areas. Run fans only if advised and safe. Take readings or have them taken.
- Afternoon
- Compare what contractors tell you. Keep a written list of calls, names and times.
- Evening
- Decide where to sleep. Check cords and equipment. Photograph again so the record shows the day's changes.
Safety checks
- No water near outlets, the panel or appliances that are running.
- No gas smell, and no pilot lights or heaters in standing water.
- Ceilings that sag with water are kept clear of people.
- Stairs and floors are clear of slipping hazards.
- Children and animals are kept out of contaminated areas.
What not to do
Do not use a household vacuum on water, do not turn on ceiling fixtures under a wet ceiling and do not use heaters to speed drying. Avoid throwing away anything before it has been photographed. Avoid signing a contract before you understand the scope. If water is not clean, avoid contact and wait for appropriate help.
A rushed first day can create extra damage and paperwork problems, while a methodical one tends to make drying faster and claims easier. When you are not sure, shut off the water, take photographs and call your insurer.
Small decisions that help later
Write down the exact time you discovered the water and what you saw. Record who you called and what they told you. Keep a pen and a notebook near the water heater, in the kitchen and by the panel so you can write as you go. When many things are happening, memory blurs, and the order of events becomes important for insurance and for working out how long materials were wet.
Prioritizing when time is short
- IfWater is still flowingThenShut it off before anything else.
- IfWater is still, but wet items are on floorsThenLift them and take photos.
- IfYou cannot reach anyone yetThenDocument, extract what is safe and keep calling.
Common questions
What if I cannot find a contractor right away?
Keep trying and keep the area as dry as you safely can. Photos and a written record will help whoever you reach.
Should I move out?
It depends on safety and comfort. Ask your insurer whether temporary housing is covered before spending.
General information for Northglenn, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.