Do this first
- Don't walk into standing water near outlets, cords or appliances. If you can reach the panel without stepping in water, switch off power to the area.
- Stop the source. Close the main water shutoff. On a well, it's usually right after the pressure tank.
- Take photos and video of the water, the source and damaged belongings before you move anything. Your insurer will ask.
- Move what you can off wet floors and out of the room.
Is it a burst pipe or a flooded basement? See burst pipe steps or basement flooding and sump pumps.
Clean water, gray water or sewage
Where the water came from changes what's safe to keep and what must go.
- Clean water, from a supply line, water heater or toilet tank: low health risk if it's dried within about 48 hours.
- Gray water, from a dishwasher or washing machine: mild health risk. Some items can be cleaned and kept.
- Black water, from sewage or outdoor flooding: anything it touched needs to come out. Wear gloves and boots, and leave the cleanup to a pro.
Start drying within a day
Damp drywall, carpet pad and insulation can start growing mold within a day or two. Open windows if the air outside is dry, run fans and a dehumidifier, and pull up wet rugs. Wet carpet pad and soaked drywall usually have to be cut out to dry the space behind them.
If more than one room is wet, water has gone into walls or ceilings, or it's gray or black water, a restoration company with moisture meters and commercial dryers will get it dry faster than fans can.
What water damage restoration costs
The average homeowner pays about $3,300. Cost depends mostly on how deep the water soaked in, which the industry grades by class.
| Severity | What it looks like | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | A small area, little water soaked into materials | $150 – $500 |
| Class 2 | A whole room, water wicked into carpet and lower walls | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Class 3 | Saturated walls, ceilings, insulation and subfloor | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Class 4 | Water bound into hardwood, plaster, concrete or stone | $15,000 – $100,000 |
Mold removal, if it's needed, typically adds $500 to $12,000. Standard homeowners insurance usually covers sudden, accidental damage from clean or gray water, but not flooding from outside, which needs a separate flood policy. Call your insurer early.