What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Water Damage in Your Home

A burst pipe, a leaking water heater, a backed-up drain or a flooded basement all start the same way: water where it should not be. What you do in the first day makes a real difference to how much has to be torn out later. This guide covers the order to work in, using guidance from Health Canada and the Government of Ontario.

1. Make it safe

Electricity

Health Canada's flood cleanup guidance says to shut the power off to the flooded area at the breaker box, wear rubber boots at all times while standing in water, and keep extension cords out of the water. Ontario's guidance adds: do not touch electrical equipment or turn off appliances if they are wet or standing in water.

After the water is gone, do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse breaker panels until they have been checked by your local authority.

Protective gear

For cleanup, Health Canada recommends disposable gloves, an N95 mask and goggles.

Sewage

If the water came from a sewer backup, take it seriously. Health Canada says children, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems should never handle water and materials contaminated by sewage, and to contact your local public health department if you suspect sewage contamination.

2. Stop the water

If the water is coming from inside the house, find the source and stop it. For a burst pipe, a failed supply line or a leaking water heater, that usually means closing the main water shut-off valve, often found where the water line enters the house, commonly in the basement. It is worth finding yours now, before you ever need it.

If the water came in from outside, from a storm or a blocked drain, stopping it may not be in your hands. Focus on safety and on getting water and wet items out of the house as soon as it is safe to do so.

3. Call your insurance company before you clean up

Ontario's advice is to contact your insurance company for claims information before you clean up. Ask them what they need from you and whether they want to see the damage before anything is removed.

While you wait, take photos and video of the water, the damaged areas and the damaged items before you move or throw anything away, and start a written list. Your insurer will tell you what they need, and it is easier to have the record than to recreate it later.

4. Start drying, fast

Time matters most here. Health Canada says your house and furnishings are less likely to grow mould if they are dried within 48 hours. That means the first 24 hours are when you get the drying started.

• Get the standing water out. Mop, wet-vac or pump it out once it is safe to be in the room.
• Move air. When the weather allows, open doors and windows and speed up drying with fans. If the weather is not suitable or drying is slow, use a dehumidifier.
• Clean surfaces. Health Canada suggests cleaning dirt on walls and furnishings with an unscented soap solution.
• Check your carbon monoxide detector. Make sure there is a working carbon monoxide detector, especially when drying out your house.
• Get wet things out of the room. Area rugs, boxes and furniture hold water and slow everything else down.

5. Decide what has to go

Some materials cannot be saved once they are soaked. Health Canada's guidance says flooring that has been soaked by flood water should be removed and discarded, and that insulation, drywall, carpets, particleboard furniture, mattresses, box springs, stuffed toys, pillows, cushions and furniture coverings that were exposed to flood water and cannot be dried should be thrown out.

Do not eat food that has come in contact with flood water.

Remember your insurer: check with them before you throw out anything they may want to see, and photograph it first.

What not to do

• Do not use flooded appliances, outlets or panels until they have been checked.
• Do not let children, pregnant women or anyone with respiratory problems handle sewage-contaminated water or materials.
• Do not wait to start drying. The 48-hour window goes quickly.
• Do not paint over a water stain and call it done. If the drywall behind it got wet and cannot be dried, it needs to come out.
• Do not start rebuilding until the source is fixed and the area is dry. New drywall and flooring over a wet space just repeats the problem.

A quick checklist for the first day

1. Stay safe around electricity and stay out if you cannot safely reach the breaker.
2. Stop the water at the source or the main shut-off if you can.
3. Put on gloves, an N95 mask and goggles before cleanup.
4. Call your insurance company before you clean up.
5. Photograph everything before it is moved or thrown out.
6. Get standing water out and start drying with fans or a dehumidifier.
7. Check that your carbon monoxide detector works.
8. Set aside soaked materials that cannot be dried, after your insurer has seen them.

After the first 24 hours: repairs

Once the source is fixed and the area is dry, the rebuild can start. This is where we come in. We cut out and replace damaged drywall, tape, finish and paint it so the repair does not show, and replace damaged flooring and baseboards. Every trade is in-house, so the same crew handles the drywall, the paint and the floor.

With us, repairing large patches and water-damaged drywall sections typically costs about $400 to $800 or more per area before HST, and new drywall hung, taped and finished runs $2.00 to $4.50 per sq ft. Small repairs usually take 2 short visits over 1 to 2 days to allow the compound to dry. Every job gets a written quote after a site visit.

We answer Monday to Saturday, 8am to 10pm, and respond to inquiries within 4 hours on average. We are WSIB certified, carry $5M in liability insurance, and every job comes with our written workmanship warranty.

Frequently asked questions