Short answer
Shut off the water at the main valve, turn off power to wet areas if it's safe, move valuables off the floor, photograph everything, and call for extraction. The goal of the first hour is to stop the water and start the clock on drying.1. Stop the water
Find the main shutoff. In most Valley homes it's on the supply line where it enters the house, often near the front hose bib or in the garage by the water heater. If the leak is from one fixture, close its angle stop valve.
2. Make it safe
Water and electricity don't mix. If water is near outlets, cords or the panel, switch off those breakers from a dry spot. Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings.
- Unplug electronics only if the floor under you is dry
- Keep kids and pets out of wet rooms
- Don't use a household vacuum on water
3. Document before cleanup
Take wide photos of each room, close-ups of the source, and video walking through the damage. Your insurer will ask for them, and they're hard to recreate later.
4. Limit the spread
Move furniture and rugs off wet flooring, put foil or blocks under furniture legs, and wipe up what you can on hard floors. Open interior doors and keep the AC running.
5. Call for extraction
If water reached carpet, got under flooring or into walls, call a restoration company. Extraction in the first hours makes drying faster and saves more material.
Questions
Should I call my insurance company or a restoration company first?
Call to get water extraction started first if damage is spreading, then notify your insurer the same day. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to limit damage.
Can I stay in the house during drying?
Usually, for clean-water losses. Drying equipment is noisy and warm. Sewage losses or large mold areas may require staying elsewhere.
This guide is general information for Arizona homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site assessment or your insurance policy wording.