Water damage emergency: what to do right now

Where is the water coming from?

Burst pipe or supply line

1. Close the main water shut-off. In most Florida homes it is outside, on the wall where the line enters the house or near the meter box. A shut-off under a sink or behind a toilet stops a fixture leak.
2. Turn off power to any room where water is near outlets, cords or appliances, but only from a dry spot at the breaker panel.
3. Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain the remaining pressure.
4. Move furniture, rugs and electronics out of the water. Put aluminum foil or blocks under furniture legs you can't move.
5. Photograph the failed pipe and every wet area before anything is removed.

Who to call: You need two trades: a licensed plumber to repair the pipe and a restoration company to extract water and dry walls, cabinets and floors.

Avoid: Don't wait for the floor to look dry. Water travels inside walls and under cabinets, where only moisture meters find it.

Read more: Burst pipe and plumbing leaks

AC drain overflow or air handler leak

1. Turn the system off at the thermostat. The air handler makes condensate water only while it runs.
2. Put towels or a pan under the air handler and check the secondary drain pan. If it is full, carefully empty it.
3. Look for the condensate line outlet outside (often a white PVC pipe near the outdoor unit). If nothing drips from it while the system ran, the line is likely clogged.
4. Check the ceiling below the air handler for stains or sagging. Stay out from under a sagging ceiling; wet drywall can fall.
5. Photograph the stain, the drain pan and any wet insulation or drywall.

Who to call: An HVAC technician clears the drain line and checks the float (safety) switch. A restoration company dries the ceiling, closet and any attic insulation.

Avoid: Don't restart the AC until the drain is cleared; it will overflow again.

Read more: AC leak and drain overflow

Leaking water heater

1. Turn off the energy supply: the breaker for an electric heater, or the gas valve to "off" or "pilot" for a gas heater.
2. Close the cold-water supply valve on the pipe at the top of the tank.
3. Keep away from the hot water and the tank surface; water can be scalding.
4. If water keeps flowing after the supply valve is closed, close the main shut-off too.
5. Photograph the tank label (it shows the age), the leak point and the wet area.

Who to call: A licensed plumber decides whether to repair or replace the heater. A restoration company dries the closet, garage or flooring around it.

Avoid: Don't try to drain a hot tank yourself during an emergency. Let it cool and leave draining to the plumber.

Read more: Water heater leaks

Washer, dishwasher, fridge or ice-maker leak

1. Turn off the appliance and unplug it only if the plug and floor around it are dry. Otherwise switch off its breaker.
2. Close the supply valves: two behind a washer, one under the kitchen sink for a dishwasher, and the small line for an ice maker.
3. Mop up standing water and pull out the toe-kick or bottom panel to check for water under cabinets.
4. Water from a washer or dishwasher is "gray water" with soap and food residue. Wear gloves and wash your hands afterward.
5. Photograph the hose or fitting that failed and keep the part. Insurers and manufacturers may ask for it.

Who to call: An appliance repair company or plumber replaces the failed hose or valve. A restoration company dries cabinets and subfloor and treats gray-water areas.

Avoid: Don't run the appliance again until the failed part is replaced.

Read more: Appliance leak cleanup

Toilet overflow or sewage backup

1. Stop using every sink, toilet, shower and appliance in the house. Any water you send down a drain can come back up at the lowest fixture.
2. Keep children and pets away. Sewage is "black water" (Category 3) and carries bacteria and viruses.
3. Turn off power to affected rooms from the breaker panel if water is near outlets.
4. If you must walk through it, wear rubber boots and gloves, and wash thoroughly afterward.
5. Photograph the affected area. Don't try to clean sewage-soaked carpet or drywall yourself.

Who to call: A plumber clears the blockage. If the main line is the problem and it is on the public side, your city or county utility may need to respond. A restoration company removes contaminated materials and sanitizes.

Avoid: Don't use a household vacuum or fan on sewage. It spreads contamination through the house.

Read more: Sewage backup cleanup

Roof leak or water through the ceiling

1. Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture and electronics away.
2. Stay out from under a ceiling that is bulging or sagging. Wet drywall is heavy and can collapse.
3. Turn off power to the room at the breaker if water is near a light fixture or ceiling fan.
4. Don't go on the roof during a storm or while it is wet. Tarping is a job for a roofer once conditions are safe.
5. Photograph the ceiling, the attic (from the hatch, if safe) and any exterior roof damage you can see from the ground.

Who to call: A licensed roofer stops the leak or installs a temporary tarp. A restoration company dries the attic insulation, ceiling and walls.

Avoid: Don't paint over a ceiling stain. It hides moisture that can keep growing mold above it.

Read more: Roof leak water damage

Flooding, storm surge or water from outside

1. If authorities ordered an evacuation, follow it. Return only when officials say it is safe.
2. Before going in, check for gas smell, structural damage and downed power lines. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas company from outside.
3. Never turn power on or off while standing in water. If the main switch can't be reached from a dry spot, call an electrician.
4. Treat floodwater and storm surge as contaminated (Category 3). Wear rubber boots and gloves.
5. Photograph and video every room, including the water line on the walls, before anything is removed.

Who to call: A restoration company handles extraction, removal of soaked drywall and insulation, and drying. Flood damage is usually covered by a separate flood policy (NFIP or private), not standard homeowners insurance.

Avoid: Don't run a generator inside the house, garage or on a porch. Keep it more than 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.

Read more: Flood damage restoration

The 24–48 hour clock

The EPA's mold guidance is built around responding to water damage within 24 to 48 hours, before mold starts to grow. Materials that stay wet longer often need removal instead of drying. In Florida's heat and humidity, start drying the same day if you can.

Protect your insurance claim

1. Document before cleanup: wide shots of every room, close-ups of damage, the water line on walls, and the source (failed hose, pipe, roof area).
2. Keep damaged items and parts until your adjuster has seen them, or photograph them with a measuring tape for scale.
3. Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage (stopping the water, drying), and keep receipts for emergency work.
4. Report promptly. Florida law sets an outer limit of 1 year after the date of loss for new or reopened claims and 18 months for supplemental claims, but your policy may require prompt notice.
5. Know what's usually excluded. Flood and storm surge need a separate flood policy, and slow leaks over time are often treated differently from sudden ones.

Our insurance claim guide covers the process in more detail.

Common questions

Sources

• CDC: Reentering your flooded home
• EPA: Mold remediation guidance (Chapter 4)
• Florida Statutes 627.70132: Notice of property insurance claim

This page is general safety information, not professional, legal or insurance advice. Florida Water Damage is a referral service and does not perform restoration work.