Restoration
What should I do first after water damage?
Short answer
Stop the water at the source or the main shutoff, cut power to affected areas if it is safe to reach the panel, move belongings out of the water, photograph and video everything before touching anything, then call your insurer and a restoration contractor. Drying should begin within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
The first hour
Order matters more than speed here. Do these in sequence:
- Shut off the water — the fixture valve if you can find it, the main if you cannot
- Turn off power to affected rooms at the panel, only if the panel is dry and reachable
- Get people and pets out of standing water; never walk into water near live outlets
- Move furniture, rugs and boxes to a dry area, and lift what you cannot move
- Photograph and video every affected room before removing anything
The first 24 to 48 hours
Mold growth generally begins within one to two days on wet organic material. That window is why professional extraction and drying matters more than aggressive demolition. Commercial extractors, air movers and dehumidifiers pull water out of framing and subfloor that shop vacs and box fans cannot reach.
Wet drywall, insulation and carpet pad are usually removed; solid wood, framing and subfloor can often be dried in place with monitored equipment. Deciding which is which is a moisture-meter question, not a visual one.
Working with your insurance
Sudden, accidental water damage — a burst supply line, a failed water heater, a storm-driven roof leak — is typically covered. Long-term seepage and maintenance neglect typically are not. Groundwater flooding requires separate flood coverage.
Call your carrier promptly, keep every receipt including hotel and equipment costs, and do not throw away damaged materials before the adjuster has seen photos. We document moisture readings, drying logs and scope in the format adjusters expect, and we meet them on site.
Delaware-specific causes we see most
Winter burst pipes in unheated crawl spaces and garages, failed water heaters and supply lines, sump pump failures during heavy rain in Kent County's higher water table, ice damming on shaded North Wilmington roofs, and shared-wall leaks in Wilmington row homes and Christiana townhomes.
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