The First Hour After Water Damagea calm checklist for Springville homes

If the water is coming from a pipe, appliance or fixture, shut it off. Most fixtures have their own valve: under the sink, behind the toilet, behind the washing machine. If you cannot find it, or the leak is in a wall, close the main valve. In Springville homes with basements, the main is usually in the basement or utility room on the wall where the water line comes in from the street, often near the water heater. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.

If the leak is from a water heater, close the cold supply valve on top of the tank and turn the heater off: the gas control to 'pilot' or 'off', or the breaker for an electric unit. If water is coming in from outside through a window well or a crack, you cannot shut it off, so move on to safety and protecting contents.

Water and electricity are a dangerous pair. If water has reached outlets, power strips, extension cords or appliances, do not walk through it. If you can reach the electrical panel from a dry spot, switch off the breakers for the affected area. If you cannot, or if the panel itself is wet, leave it and call the power company or an electrician.

Watch the ceiling. A bulging, sagging ceiling below a bathroom or laundry can hold a surprising amount of water. Keep people out from under it. Sewage from a backed-up drain or toilet carries germs, so keep children and pets away from it and do not try to clean it with household tools.

Before you move or throw anything away, take photos and short videos. Capture each wet room from the doorway, then close-ups of floors, walls, ceilings and damaged belongings. Photograph the source: the split pipe, the burst hose, the overflowing well. If a part failed, keep it. Insurers often want to see it.

Note the time you discovered the water and anything you know about when it started. This matters both for the insurer and for the contractor, because the longer water sits, the more likely it is to have spread and the more likely it is to be treated as contaminated.

A contractor can tell you on the phone what to do until they arrive and how urgent the situation is. Water that reached carpet pad, drywall or a basement ceiling usually needs extraction, moisture readings and dehumidifiers within the first day or two. The EPA recommends drying wet building materials within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold growth. ^[1]

Call your insurance company or agent too, but you do not need to wait for an adjuster before starting to dry the house. Most policies expect you to prevent further damage.

Tenants should still stop the water and protect their belongings, then notify the landlord or property manager immediately. The landlord is usually responsible for the building and for arranging restoration; your renter's insurance, if you have it, covers your belongings. Photograph your possessions before anything is moved.

If a neighbor or alarm tells you about water while you are away, ask someone you trust to close the main valve if they can do so safely. Then call so the drying can start before you get home. Every hour matters.

Print or save this: main shutoff location, electrical panel location, insurance policy number, a list of what is stored in the basement and the number to call. Keeping it in one place means less searching in a stressful moment.

Keep children and pets away from wet areas, cords, equipment and anything contaminated. Wet floors are slippery, sagging ceilings can fall and floodwater or sewage carries germs.

After the first hour, the next priorities are drying and documentation. Keep a notebook of who you spoke to and when, and keep receipts for anything you buy. Within a day or two, the contractor should have mapped moisture, removed what will not dry and set equipment. Within a few days, readings should be steadily dropping.

If the water came from a neighbor's unit, in a townhome or condo, tell the neighbor and the HOA or property manager right away so the source can be shut off. Document the damage in your unit and note the time you reported it.

Panic is natural, but a short list in the right order works better: water off, power safe, photos, belongings up, call. Everything else can wait an hour.