Water damage in your home can feel overwhelming, whether the damage came from heavy rain, a burst pipe, an overflowing appliance or another unexpected event. The good news is that acting quickly can significantly reduce damage, improve the chances of saving your belongings, and help your home recover faster.
If your home has experienced water damage, here’s what to do next:
1. Make Sure It’s Safe to Enter
Your safety should always come first.
If there is standing water near electrical outlets, appliances, or your home’s electrical system, do not enter the affected area. Floodwater may also contain sewage, chemicals, bacteria, or other contaminants that can pose serious health risks.
If you’re unsure whether it’s safe, wait for emergency responders or a qualified restoration professional before entering the property. Never attempt to shut off electricity while standing in water.
2. Stop the Source of the Water
If the water is coming from a plumbing failure or appliance, shut off your home’s main water supply if it’s safe to do so.
If the damage is caused by heavy rain, storms, or roof damage, wait until conditions are safe before entering the property.
dThe sooner the water source is stopped, the less damage it can cause. Even a small leak can continue soaking drywall, flooring, insulation, and structural materials long after the initial incident.
3. Call a Water Damage Restoration Company Immediately
Time is one of the biggest factors in water damage restoration.
Water doesn’t stay where you can see it. It quickly migrates beneath flooring, behind drywall, inside insulation, and into structural materials. Left untreated, hidden moisture can lead to additional damage and create conditions where mold can begin developing within 24-48 hours.
Professional restoration teams have specialized equipment to locate hidden moisture, remove standing water, and begin the drying process immediately.
At Rumsey Construction & Restoration, our emergency response teams are available 24/7 with industrial-grade extraction equipment, moisture mapping technology, air movers, and commercial dehumidifiers to begin protecting your home as quickly as possible.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurance carrier as soon as possible to begin the claims process.
Your adjuster can explain what information they’ll need and what your policy may cover. Since coverage varies depending on the source of the water and your specific policy, it’s best not to assume what’s covered, or what isn’t.
Keep your claim number and adjuster’s contact information handy.
Rumsey works with insurance companies every day. We can help document the damage, prepare detailed estimates, and communicate with your adjuster throughout the restoration process.
5. Document the Damage
Before cleanup begins, take photos and videos of:
Every affected room
Damaged flooring, walls, and ceilings
Furniture and personal belongings
The apparent source of the water
Capture both wide-angle photos and close-up images.
If possible, avoid throwing away damaged items until they’ve been documented and your insurance company or restoration team has advised you. Many belongings can often be cleaned and restored rather than replaced.
6. Don’t Rely on DIY Drying
It may seem like a few fans or towels will solve the problem, but water damage is rarely only what you can see.
Moisture often becomes trapped beneath flooring, inside walls, and under cabinets where household equipment can’t reach. Without professional drying equipment and moisture monitoring, hidden water can continue damaging your home long after surfaces appear dry.
If the water is contaminated, attempting cleanup without proper protective equipment can also expose you to significant health hazards.
Professional restoration teams identify the type of water involved, safely remove contaminated materials when necessary, and ensure the property is dried to industry standards.
7. Begin Professional Drying and Restoration
Once standing water has been removed, the drying process begins.
Restoration professionals use commercial air movers, dehumidifiers, and moisture meters to monitor drying progress and ensure moisture levels return to normal.
Depending on the extent of the damage, affected materials may need to be cleaned, sanitized, removed, or replaced. Starting this process quickly helps minimize damage and reduces the likelihood of mold growth.
8. Complete Repairs and Reconstruction
Some water losses require more than drying alone.
Drywall, flooring, cabinetry, insulation, trim, and other building materials may need to be repaired or replaced before your home is fully restored.
Rather than coordinating multiple contractors, Rumsey manages the entire process, from emergency mitigation and drying through reconstruction. Having one experienced team handle your project helps simplify communication, reduce delays, and get your home back to normal faster.
How to Reduce the Risk of Future Water Damage
While no one can prevent every emergency, a few proactive steps can reduce the likelihood of future water damage:
Know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is located.
Inspect plumbing, water heaters, and appliance supply lines regularly.
Clean gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage.
Check your roof for missing shingles or signs of wear.
Make sure water drains away from your home’s foundation.
Review your homeowner’s insurance coverage so you understand what’s included before an emergency happens.
Being prepared won’t stop every water loss, but it can make responding much easier when one occurs.
Need Emergency Water Damage Restoration?
When water damage happens, every minute matters. The sooner mitigation begins, the greater the opportunity to reduce damage, protect your belongings, and restore your home.
Rumsey Construction & Restoration provides 24/7 emergency response, professional water extraction, structural drying, contents restoration, and full reconstruction services throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
If you have a water emergency, don’t wait.
Contact Rumsey Construction & Restoration or call (888) 611-8101 anytime, day or night, to get help fast.
