First steps after finding water damage

The first hour shapes the next few weeks. Here is the order we suggest.

1. Safety

• Keep away from water near outlets, extension cords and appliances. Ready.gov advises not touching electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water.
• Bulging ceiling? Keep people out from underneath.
• Smell gas? Leave and call SDG&E or 911.

2. Stop the water

Close the fixture valve or the main. If it is rain, cover the opening from inside with plastic and tape if you can safely reach it. Never go on a wet roof.

3. Record it

Photos and video of the source, the wet areas and damaged belongings, before you move anything.

4. Protect belongings

• Lift rugs, books, electronics and art off wet floors.
• Put foil or blocks under furniture legs.
• Hang up wet fabrics.

5. Get air moving if the water was clean

Open windows if it is dry outside; run fans if the power is safe. Do not use a household vacuum on standing water.

6. Call your insurer and request help

Report the loss and get a claim number. Then send us a request. The EPA advises drying within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, so do not wait for every answer before drying starts.

What not to do

• Do not throw everything away before the adjuster sees it or it is documented.
• Do not paint over stains.
• Do not seal up wet walls.

Hour-by-hour guide

Protecting valuables

• Documents and photos: separate pages, air dry or freeze in sealed bags until you can deal with them.
• Art: move it to a dry room. For valuable pieces, the American Institute for Conservation has a directory to find a conservator.
• Electronics: unplug from a dry spot; do not power on until checked.
• Rugs: roll and move them; dyes can bleed into wood floors.

Your insurer will likely ask

• When did it start and when did you notice?
• What did you do to stop it?
• Where did the water come from?
• What is damaged?

Have your photos and notes ready. Keep receipts for anything you buy to protect the home.

If the water came from outside

Storm water entering at ground level or through a garage is treated as contaminated. Keep children and pets out of it, wear boots and gloves, and do not try to save soaked carpet or upholstered furniture. Throw out any food that touched it. Professional cleanup is the safer route.

If the water came from a pipe

Clean supply water caught quickly is the most forgiving kind of loss. Lift rugs, wipe hard floors, open cabinet doors under sinks, and get professional drying started. Many materials can be saved if drying starts within the EPA's 24 to 48 hour window.

If you are away from home

Coastal second homes and vacation rentals are common in the area. If a neighbor or property manager reports water, ask them to close the main if safe and take photos. Arrange access for a restoration contractor and notify your insurer. Some policies have conditions about vacant or unoccupied homes, so read yours.

Five things to keep in one folder

• Photos and video, dated.
• Your notes on timeline and actions.
• Claim number and adjuster contact.
• Contractor license number and contract.
• Receipts for every expense.

Health first if the water was not clean

If water came from a sewer line, a toilet with waste, or outdoor flooding, treat it as contaminated. EPA guidance is to keep children and pets away, wear gloves and boots, and throw out porous items that cannot be cleaned and dried. CDPH notes that children are more sensitive to dampness and mold than adults. When in doubt, leave cleanup to a contractor equipped for contaminated water.

Sources, accessed Oct 16 to 17, 2026: Ready.gov: Floods · EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home · SDG&E: Safety · California Department of Insurance: Residential insurance guides · American Institute for Conservation: Find a conservator · California Department of Insurance: Residential property claims guide (PDF) · 10 CCR 2695.7: claim decision timelines (LII) · EPA: Flood cleanup, protect indoor air and your health · California Department of Public Health: Dampness and mold in homes