Emergency
Active leak or flooding? Do these three things now.
Stop the water, make it safe, then call. Every hour water sits, it wicks further into walls, cabinets and subfloor.
- Fast call-back for active leaks
- Free to call
Right now
- 1Shut off the waterClose the main valve, usually where the supply enters the house near the front hose bib or in the garage by the water heater.
- 2Kill power to wet areasSwitch off breakers for wet rooms from a dry spot. Don't touch cords or outlets while standing in water.
- 3Stay out from under sagging ceilingsDrywall full of water can come down. Put a bucket under drips and keep people out.
The full first-hour checklist
- Step 1
Shut off the water
Close the main valve, usually where the supply enters the house near the front hose bib or in the garage by the water heater.
- Step 2
Kill power to wet areas
Switch off breakers for wet rooms from a dry spot. Don't touch cords or outlets while standing in water.
- Step 3
Stay out from under sagging ceilings
Drywall full of water can come down. Put a bucket under drips and keep people out.
- Step 4
Photograph everything
Wide shots of each room, close-ups of the source, and a video walkthrough before cleanup.
- Step 5
Move what you can
Get rugs, electronics and valuables off wet floors. Put foil or blocks under furniture legs.
- Step 6
Call for extraction
Water in carpet, under flooring or in walls needs professional extraction and drying.
Emergency services
More detail: what to do in the first hour after water damage.
Emergency questions
What counts as a water damage emergency?
Water that's still flowing, water near electrical, a sagging ceiling, sewage, or water spreading into several rooms. All of these get worse by the hour.
Should I turn off the AC during a leak?
Keep it running for clean-water leaks, since cool, dry air helps. Turn it off if the leak is coming from the AC unit itself or if sewage or smoke is involved.