The first hour decides how much of this becomes a repair instead of a rebuild. In order: make it safe, stop the source, document it, and get the water out.
Safety, in this order
- Electricity first. If water has reached outlets, cords, a submerged appliance or the panel, stay out of the room. Do not stand in water to reach a breaker.
- Gas next. If you smell gas, leave and call from outside.
- Structure. Do not walk under a sagging ceiling or on a floor that feels soft.
- Contamination. Assume anything from a floor drain, toilet or sewer line is contaminated — see sewage backup cleanup.
Then stop the source
Supply line break
Close the main shutoff, then open a low faucet to relieve pressure.
Appliance overflow
Close the valve behind or beneath the unit and unplug it if it is safe to reach.
Sewer backup
Stop using water entirely, and call the City of Anoka: 763-576-2923 business hours, 763-576-2903 after hours.
Sump overflow
Check the float and the discharge line for a block or a freeze before anything else.
Document before you clean
- Photograph and video every affected room before moving anything, including inside cabinets and closets.
- Photograph the source itself — the split pipe, the failed pump, the appliance.
- Write down when it started and when it was found.
- Keep damaged items until they have been documented and released.
Then get water out fast: extraction and drying are what stop the loss from growing.
What not to do
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water.
- Do not run the HVAC system if it may have taken on water or if contamination is present.
- Do not put fans on a contaminated area — you are moving contamination around the building.
- Do not discard damaged property before it is documented for the claim.
- Do not close a wall back up because the surface feels dry.
Asked and answered
Direct answersWhat should I do in the first hour after water damage?
Make it safe first: stay out of standing water near outlets, cords or the panel, and away from a sagging ceiling. Stop the source at the fixture valve or the main shutoff. Photograph every affected room before moving anything. Then get extraction and drying started the same day.
What should I not do after water damage?
Do not use a household vacuum on standing water, do not run the HVAC system if it may have taken on water or if contamination is present, do not point fans at a contaminated area, do not discard damaged property before it is documented, and do not close a wall back up because the surface feels dry.
How soon can mold grow after water damage?
Under favourable temperature and moisture conditions, microbial growth can begin within roughly 24 to 48 hours. That window is why same-day extraction and continuous drying matter more than any other decision made after a water loss.