What to Do First When You Discover Water Damage

Reviewed by Tyler Bennett, Restoration Project Manager, IICRC WRT/ASD #291438, October 2026.

Short answer: When you discover water damage, check for electrical and ceiling hazards, then stop the water at its source. Turn off power to wet rooms if you can do it safely, take photos, and call a restoration crew and your insurer within the first hour.

If you need help in the next few minutes, our emergency water damage crew in Spanish Fork answers the phone live 24/7.

Minute 0–5: Check for danger

Before you step into water, stop and look. Your safety comes before your floors.

Is water near outlets, cords, appliances or the electrical panel? Stay out of it.
Is the ceiling sagging or stained? Keep people out from under it.
Does the water smell like sewage? Treat it as Category 3 and do not touch it.
Do you smell gas? Leave the house and call from outside.

Minute 5–15: Stop the water

Find the source and shut it off. The faster the flow stops, the less there is to dry.

Source	How to stop it
Supply pipe or fitting	Shut off the main water valve.
Washing machine	Close the valves behind the washer.
Toilet	Turn the valve behind the toilet clockwise.
Dishwasher	Close the valve under the kitchen sink.
Water heater	Close the cold supply valve at the top.
Roof or ceiling	Catch drips with buckets. Call a roofer for the source.

If you are not sure where your shutoff is, call us. We answer live 24/7 and can walk you through it.

Minute 15–25: Power and safety

If the panel is in a dry spot, turn off breakers to the wet rooms. If the panel is wet or you have to stand in water to reach it, leave it alone.

Unplug small electronics only from dry floors. Move kids and pets out of the area.

Minute 25–40: Document everything

Photos and video help your insurance claim. Take them before you move or throw anything away.

Film the source of the water.
Walk each wet room slowly and film the floor, walls and baseboards.
Photograph damaged items, with model numbers where you can.
Write down the time you found the water and when you stopped it.

Minute 40–50: Make two calls

First, call a restoration company. Drying should start as soon as possible. Second, call your insurance company to report the loss.

Most policies ask for prompt notice. Coverage depends on your policy and the cause, so ask your agent. We bill insurance directly and scope in Xactimate.

Minute 50–60: Protect your belongings

Move rugs, papers, photos and electronics to a dry room.
Lift furniture onto foil or blocks so it does not wick water.
Open interior doors to help air move, but do not run a household vacuum on water.
Do not turn on the HVAC system if the water was dirty.

What not to do

A few common moves can make things worse:

Do not peel up carpet yourself. You may tear it or spread dirty water.
Do not run fans in a sewage-damaged room. That can spread contaminants.
Do not assume the floor is dry because it feels dry. Water hides under it.

What happens when we arrive

We check moisture with pin and pinless meters and a FLIR thermal camera. Then we extract water and set air movers and LGR dehumidifiers. Most homes dry in 3–5 days.

If walls or floors must come out, our same crew rebuilds them. If you are not sure what kind of water you have, read our guide to Category 1, 2 and 3 water. For a burst line, see what to do after a pipe bursts.

Who will be working in your home

Our crew is IICRC-trained. Tyler Bennett, our project manager, holds WRT and ASD certifications. Marcus Holloway, Darnell Whitaker and Sophia Nguyen are WRT and ASD certified as well.

4Sure Mold Removal is an IICRC Certified Firm and holds Utah Contractor License #961339-4102. We carry liability insurance with The Hartford.

If a toilet caused the mess, our toilet overflow cleanup page explains how we handle it.

Common questions

How quickly should I call a restoration company?

As soon as the water is stopped and everyone is safe. Mold can start in 24–48 hours, and drywall and wood keep soaking up water the longer it sits.

Should I call insurance or a restoration company first?

Either order works, but do both in the first hour. Starting drying quickly helps limit damage, and most policies ask for prompt notice of a loss.

Can I stay in my house?

It depends on the water type, the size of the damage and the electrical risk. Sewage or a wet electrical panel are good reasons to step out until the home is checked.

Do you give estimates?

Yes. We give free written estimates. Water mitigation usually runs $3,500–$8,500, and a typical dry-out is about $4,500.

How fast can you arrive?

We guarantee 45-minute arrival inside Spanish Fork city limits, or the emergency inspection is free. In nearby Utah County towns we are typically under 60 minutes.