What to Do Right After Water Damage (and the Mistakes That Make It Worse)

You walk into the kitchen and your socks get wet. Maybe the AC overflowed, a supply line let go under the sink, or the toilet backed up. Whatever caused it, what you do in the next hour can make the difference between a few days of drying and a much bigger, more expensive job.

We’ve been handling water damage in Brevard County for years, and we see the same things over and over: the steps that save people money, and the mistakes that cost them. Here’s what to do.

What to do right away

1. Stop the water

Shut the water off at the main if you can do it safely. If it’s a roof leak, get buckets or towels under the drips. The sooner the water stops, the less there is to dry.

Stay safe while you do it

• Watch the electricity. If water has reached outlets, cords, or the breaker panel area, shut off the power to that part of the house before you step in. If you’re not sure it’s safe, stay out and call an electrician.
• Look up before you walk under it. A ceiling that’s sagging or bulging is holding water. Keep people and pets out of that room.
• Don’t mop up sewage. Anything that came from a toilet, a drain, or floodwater outside is contaminated. Close the room off and call for help.

2. Get your valuables out

Move anything valuable or irreplaceable out of the wet area first, like family photos, keepsakes, and important papers. Then move anything breakable out of the way.

3. Take photos and video

Before you clean anything up, take photos and a slow walkthrough video of the water and anything it touched. If you end up filing an insurance claim, this is the first thing you’ll want.

4. Call a restoration company

The faster drying starts, the shorter and cheaper the job. Water keeps wicking up into drywall and soaking into cabinets and the slab the whole time it sits, and mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours.

If the leak needs a plumber or roofer, a good restoration company will help you find one you can trust.

The mistakes that make it worse

Opening the doors and windows

This is the big one in Florida. It feels like fresh air should help dry things out, but it does the opposite. The humidity outside usually runs 60 to 80%, so you’re just pulling more moisture into your house. Keep everything closed and let your AC run. It works like a dehumidifier and pulls moisture out of the air better than outside air ever will.

Tracking water through the house

Your shoes are soaked, and every trip from one side of the house to the other spreads the water further. Kick off wet shoes before you leave the wet area.

Mopping up what you can see and calling it done

Most people mop up the water on the floor and think the problem’s solved. What they don’t know is that most of the moisture has already wicked up into the drywall, baseboards, and cabinets. That hidden water is what turns into a mold job weeks later. A restoration company uses moisture meters and thermal cameras to find where the water actually went.

Pointing a fan at dirty water or mold

If the water came from a toilet, a washing machine, sewage, or a storm, or if you see mold, don’t point a fan at it. Blowing air across contaminated, wet material spreads bacteria and mold spores through the air in your home. We don’t run air movers on these jobs at all, just dehumidifiers and air scrubbers. If a company ever sets up fans on a dirty water or mold job, stop the work and get a second opinion.

Waiting to see if it dries on its own

It usually won’t, at least not inside your walls. And the longer it sits, the more tear-out it takes.

What about insurance?

Most of our customers call their insurance company first, just to confirm their coverage and that they can choose who does the work. That’s fine. Just know that the insurance company will usually try to send its own preferred vendor, a company that works for them, not you. You can choose your own.

Two things worth knowing in Florida:

• Don’t sit on a leak. Many policies exclude damage from leaks that have been going on for 14 days or more.
• Mold coverage usually depends on a water claim. Most policies only cover mold that comes from a covered water loss, so reporting the water damage promptly matters.

Every policy is different, so check yours or ask your agent what’s covered.

Quick answers

Should I open the windows to dry out water damage? Not in Florida. Keep the house closed and run your AC. Outside air is usually far more humid than the air inside.

Can I use a fan to dry it out myself? For a small clean water spill, a fan won’t hurt. But never point a fan at dirty water or mold, and know that fans don’t dry the inside of your walls.

How fast does mold grow after a leak? It can start within 24 to 48 hours.

Do I have to use the company my insurance sends? You can usually choose your own. Check your policy or ask your agent.

Why Brevard homeowners call us

We’re a small-town company, and we’re proud of our Brevard roots. We treat our customers like family, not like a number, and we take care of every home like it’s our own. We’ve never worked for an insurance company. On a claim, we work for you, the homeowner.

Water where it shouldn’t be? Call Affordable Water and Mold Removal at (321) 890-2512 for a free moisture evaluation. We serve all of Brevard County, from Mims to Palm Bay and the beaches.

About the author: Ryan Townsend grew up in Port St. John and has spent 15+ years in the restoration field, starting in his early twenties as a helper for a Brevard County restoration company. He worked his way up from technician to lead tech, supervisor, and management, then opened Affordable Water and Mold Removal in March 2018. He has been IICRC certified for 10+ years and holds the WRT (water damage restoration) and AMRT (mold remediation) certifications, plus Florida mold remediator license MRSR3317.