Straight advice from the dispatch deskWhat to Do in the First Hour After Water Damage
The steps you take before the crew pulls up can save a floor, a wall, or an entire room. None of this replaces professional drying, but it buys you time.
Start by stopping the water. Find the main shutoff and turn it clockwise until it stops. In older houses near downtown Stuart it tends to sit in the basement along the front wall where the street line enters. In newer subdivisions, check the garage, a utility closet, or the area by the water heater. If you live in a condo or apartment, the shutoff for your unit may be under a sink or behind an access panel, and building maintenance can shut the riser if needed.
Make the space safe. If water has reached outlets, power strips or the panel, do not wade through it to flip the breaker. Call the utility or wait for the crew. Keep an eye on the ceiling. Bulging or sagging drywall is holding water and can drop without warning, so keep everyone, pets included, out from beneath it.
Document everything before it moves. Shoot wide photos of each room, then close-ups of the source, the waterline on the walls, and damaged belongings. A quick walk-through video with the date visible is even better, and your adjuster will appreciate it.
Start air moving, carefully. If the electricity is safe and the water is clean, open interior doors and point a few household fans across the wet areas. Keep windows shut on hot, muggy days, since outside air will add more moisture than it takes away. In cold weather, leave the heat on so pipes stay thawed and wet materials keep releasing moisture.
Get belongings up off the floor. Move rugs, electronics, paperwork and anything with sentimental value to a dry room. Put foil squares or plastic lids under furniture legs so finish and rust do not bleed into wet carpet. Leave heavy pieces and anything built in for the crew.
Things not to do: Never use a household vacuum on wet flooring, do not crank the HVAC thinking it will help, and do not rip out drywall before it has been photographed and measured. If the water came from a toilet, a floor drain or outside, assume it is contaminated and keep your hands out of it.
Then call. The sooner a crew starts extraction, the more of your home stays in place instead of ending up at the curb. If any of it feels unclear, the dispatcher can talk you through it while the contractor is driving over.