Water and fire damage guides
Short, practical answers for the questions people ask in the middle of a leak or after a fire, and during the repair.
Emergency
What to Do When a Pipe Bursts
Shut off the main water valve, cut power to wet areas if it's safe, open a low faucet to drain the lines, then photograph everything and get water extraction started the same day.
Read the guideThe First 24 Hours After Water Damage
In the first 24 hours: make the area safe, stop the water, document everything, call your insurer, and get extraction and drying started.
Read the guideWho to Call for Water Damage, and How to Choose a Company
Call a plumber to stop a plumbing leak and a water damage restoration company to remove the water and dry the house; call your insurer the same day.
Read the guideSewage Backup Cleanup: What to Do First (and What Not to Touch)
Stop using water in the house, keep people and pets out of the affected rooms, and don't touch anything the sewage reached with bare hands.
Read the guideCategory 1, 2 and 3 Water Damage, Explained
Category describes how contaminated the water is.
Read the guideFlooded Basement Cleanup: What to Do First
Stay out of standing water until you know the power is off and the water is clean.
Read the guideMold
How Fast Does Mold Grow After Water Damage?
Mold can start growing on wet drywall, wood and carpet within 24 to 48 hours, and becomes visible in days.
Read the guideHow to Prevent Mold After Water Damage
Prevent mold by drying everything within 24 to 48 hours: extract the water, remove soaked carpet pad, insulation and drywall that won't dry, run dehumidifiers and air movers, and confirm with a moisture meter that materials are dry before closing anything up.
Read the guideDrying
How Long Does Water Damage Take to Dry?
With professional equipment, most clean-water damage dries in 3 to 5 days.
Read the guideWhat Is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration is the process of returning a home to its pre-loss condition after a leak or flood: stopping the source, extracting water, drying the structure to measured targets, cleaning and sanitizing, then repairing what had to be removed.
Read the guideHow to Fix a Water-Damaged Ceiling
Stop the leak, keep people out from under a sagging ceiling, and dry the area completely.
Read the guidePrevention
How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes
Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, disconnect garden hoses, keep the heat on, open cabinet doors on exterior walls during freezes and let a faucet drip.
Read the guideWhat Does Water Damage Look Like? New vs. Old Signs
Water damage shows up as yellow or brown stains, bubbling or peeling paint, soft or swollen drywall, warped or cupped flooring, a musty smell and mold spots.
Read the guideFire
What to Do After a House Fire
After a house fire, wait until the fire department says it's safe to enter, call your insurer, secure the home against weather and theft, and document all damage before cleanup.
Read the guideHow to Clean Soot Off Walls (and When Not To)
Vacuum loose soot with a brush attachment, then wipe walls with a dry chemical soot sponge in straight strokes before using any water.
Read the guideSmoke Damage: What Can Be Saved and What Can't
Hard, non-porous items — metal, glass, sealed stone and most hard plastics — usually clean up well after smoke damage.
Read the guideWater where it shouldn't be?
Stop the source if you can, then call. We'll connect you with a local restoration company that serves your ZIP.
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