Straight advice from the dispatch deskYour First Hour After a Leak or Flood
The steps you take before the crew pulls up can save a floor, a wall, or an entire room. None of this replaces professional drying, but it buys you time.
Stop the water first. Locate the main shutoff and turn it clockwise as far as it will go. In older homes near downtown Decatur it is often in the basement on the front wall where the line comes in from the street. In newer subdivisions it is usually in the garage, a utility closet, or near the water heater. If you live in a condo or apartment, the shutoff for your unit may be under a sink or behind an access panel, and building maintenance can shut the riser if needed.
Make the space safe. If water is near outlets, power strips or the electrical panel, do not walk through it to reach the breaker. Call the utility or wait for the crew. Watch the ceiling. Drywall that bulges or sags is holding water and can come down without warning, so keep people and pets out from under it.
Photograph it all before anything moves. Take wide photos of each room, then close-ups of the source, the waterline on walls, and damaged belongings. A short video walking through the house with the date on screen is even better. Your adjuster will thank you.
Get some air moving, carefully. If the electricity is safe and the water is clean, open interior doors and point a few household fans across the wet areas. Keep windows shut on hot, muggy days, since outside air will add more moisture than it takes away. In winter, keep the heat on so pipes do not freeze again and materials keep giving up water.
Get belongings up off the floor. Carry rugs, electronics, documents and anything sentimental into a dry room. Put foil squares or plastic lids under furniture legs so finish and rust do not bleed into wet carpet. Leave heavy pieces and anything built in for the crew.
What to avoid: Never use a household vacuum on wet flooring, do not crank the HVAC thinking it will help, and do not rip out drywall before it has been photographed and measured. If the water came from a toilet, a floor drain or outside, assume it is contaminated and keep your hands out of it.
Then make the call. The earlier extraction begins, the more of your home stays where it is instead of going out to the curb. If you are unsure about any of this, our dispatcher can walk you through it while the contractor is on the way.