Water Damage Guidesfor Homeowners
Practical answers, based on public sources, for the questions people ask with a wet floor in front of them.
First Steps
GuideLeaking Ceiling
Move people and belongings away, put a bucket down, then find and stop the source. Stay out from under any.
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GuideFind Your Main Shutoff
Your main shutoff is usually where the water line enters the home: in a basement or crawl space, a garage, a.
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GuideIs It Safe to Stay?
You can often stay after a small clean-water leak if the power is safe and the affected rooms are closed off..
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The First Hour
In the first hour, stop the water, keep people safe, and document what you see. Everything else can follow.
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Drying and Cleanup
GuideCan Wet Carpet Be Saved?
Carpet wet with clean water can often be saved if it's extracted and dried quickly. The pad usually needs.
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GuideClean, Gray and Black Water
Clean water comes from supply lines, gray water from washers or dishwashers, and black water from sewage or fl
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GuideHow Long Drying Takes
A clean-water job commonly takes several days of equipment time. Dense materials, older buildings and humid we
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GuideWet Drywall: Keep or Cut?
Drywall touched by clean water for a short time can often dry in place. If it is soft, sagging, or wet from fl
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Leaks and Pipes
GuideFrozen Pipes
If taps stop running in a freeze, assume a pipe is frozen. Shut the main before thawing, because the split may
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GuideSigns of a Hidden Leak
Stains, a musty smell, soft floors, peeling paint or a rising water bill can all point to a leak behind a surf
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GuideWater Heater Leak
Turn off the cold water valve above the heater, then shut off gas or the breaker. Be careful of hot water..
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Storms and Flooding
GuidePrepare for a Flood
Check your flood coverage now, photograph your home, move valuables up, and learn how to shut off utilities..
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GuideIce Dam Leaks
Ice dams form when attic heat melts roof snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under shingles.
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GuideSump Pump Failure
When a pit overflows, check for power, a stuck float, or a frozen or blocked discharge. If the floor is wet ne
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Fire and Smoke
GuideRemove Smoke Smell
Smoke smell lingers because residue clings to surfaces and soaks into soft materials. To remove it, clean or.
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GuideSafe After a Fire?
Don't go back until the fire department says you can. Even a small fire can leave structural, electrical and.
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Guide
Insurance and Hiring
GuideFlood vs Water Damage Insurance
Sudden water from inside the home usually falls to your homeowners policy, while rising water from outside usu
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GuideQuestions for a Contractor
Ask who is doing the work, how they verify dryness, what they document, and what you are signing. A good contr
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A Renter's Guide
Tell your landlord right away, in writing as well as by phone. Photograph the damage and your belongings, and.
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How to use these guides
Each guide answers one question directly, then gives the detail. They draw on agencies like the EPA and FEMA, and sources are listed on each page. For quick answers across every topic, see our questions and answers. None of this replaces an on-site assessment by a qualified professional.