When water gets into a Texas home, make the area safe first: keep out of standing water near electricity, stop the source if you can reach it, and remove standing water only if it is safe. Photograph the damage before moving anything, then call for help and keep a written record of what you did.
Key takeaways
- Electricity and water are the most dangerous combination in a flooded home, so switch off power to the wet area before you go in.
- Stop the source at the nearest valve or the main if you can reach it, and do not wait for help to do that step.
- Photograph the water line, the damage and any wet items before anything is moved or cleaned.
- Do not use a household fan or a wet vacuum on a live circuit or in standing water, and do not run appliances that have been wet.
- Watch for growth in the days and weeks that follow, because mold needs moisture, and call a licensed party if you see it.
- Keep a written record of times, actions and contacts, which helps the crew and any later question about the damage.
What is the first thing to check?
Check for electricity and for anything that could be dangerous before you enter. If the water is near outlets, cords, the breaker panel or any appliance that is plugged in, stay out of it until the power is off.
Standing water can hide live wiring, loose cords and damaged fixtures. If the breaker for the area is clearly labeled, switch it off from a dry place. If you are not sure which breaker serves the room, leave the house and call for help, and do not wade in to find out.
Be careful with gas as well. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside. Do not light a flame, switch a light on or use a phone inside the house until you are clear of the gas.
How do I stop the water?
Shut off the water at the nearest valve, such as a fixture valve or the valve behind an appliance, or at the main if you can reach it. Stopping the source is the step that does the most to limit the damage.
If the water comes from a fixture, look for a small valve under the sink or behind the toilet and turn it clockwise until it stops. If you cannot find a valve, or it will not turn, go to the main. Many houses have a main shutoff near where the water line enters the building.
If the water is coming through the roof or a ceiling, the source is outside the house and cannot be stopped from inside. Put containers under the drip, move belongings out of its path and switch off any fixture above the water.
Should I start removing the water myself?
Only a small spill on a hard floor, with the power off, is something a household can clear with towels and a wet-dry vacuum. A room under standing water, or water that has reached walls or electrical equipment, should be left to a crew.
Towels and a mop can clear a small spill, and the floor should be dried as far as you can reach. A wet vacuum is safe only if it is rated for the purpose, it is plugged into a safe supply, and it is not standing in water.
Do not use a household fan to dry a wall or a floor that is still wet, because the fan can move moisture into dry rooms. Leave drying to a crew with the equipment and the readings to show when it is done.
What should I photograph and write down?
Photograph the water line, the stains, the wet items, the appliance or fixture the water came from and any electrical outlets in the area. Write down the time you first saw the water, what you did and who you called.
Photographs taken before cleaning are the best record of how the damage started. Take wide shots of each room and close shots of any stain, wet item or source. Keep the originals on the phone or camera, not only on a copy.
A written note of the times and steps is the second record. It helps the crew build the plan, and it helps you answer questions later about when the water started and when it was stopped.
Who should I call, and what should I tell them?
Call a water damage crew for extraction and drying, and a plumber, roofer or appliance technician for the repair of the source. Tell each one the address, the source of the water, whether it is still running and whether electricity is near it.
Give the full address and ZIP code, and say whether the water is still coming in. If there is any sign of electrical danger, say so first, because it changes what the crew needs to bring and how it approaches the house.
If you have already done any of the steps in this guide, say so. Stopping the water, switching off the power and taking photographs all change the first visit, and the crew will want to know.
What should I avoid in the first day?
Avoid walking on wet floors near electrical equipment, running appliances that were wet, pulling up flooring or removing wall board without a plan, and using household cleaners that mix or spread the damage.
Do not run the washer, dishwasher or dryer that was wet, and do not plug in anything that has been in water. An appliance that has been wet needs a technician before it is used again.
Do not paint, seal or cover a stain before the crew has looked at it. Covering the stain hides it from the readings, and it can let moisture stay inside the wall or ceiling where it will keep growing.
What should I watch for in the days and weeks after?
Watch for a musty smell, new stains, paint that bubbles, floors that feel soft and any growth on walls or stored items. Mold can start within days on material that stays damp, so report anything new the same day.
A new stain that appears after the drying is finished can mean the water has moved, or that a material was not dried to the reading. Report it to the crew or to the repair trade, and ask for it to be checked.
If you see mold, stop disturbing the area, keep people and pets away from it, and call a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant. The Texas rules keep the assessment and the removal with separate licensed parties on the same project.
What should I do during the first night?
Keep the wet area closed off, keep the power to it off, keep people and pets out, and make sure the water source is stopped. Set out containers under any drip, keep a light source that is safe to use, and leave the full record for the crew in the morning or sooner if it is needed.
A flood that is discovered at night is hard to manage, but the steps are the same. Stop the water, switch off the power to the affected area, close the door to the room and keep a clear path for the crew. Use a battery light rather than a flame, and keep it away from any water.
Write down the time, the room, the source and what you did before you went to bed. That note is the first entry in the record, and it helps the crew plan when it arrives.
What about children, older people and pets?
Keep children, older people and pets out of wet rooms, away from exposed wiring and clear of any ceiling that is sagging. Anyone with breathing problems should stay out of rooms where growth is visible or where materials are being opened.
Water that has come from a drain or sewer carries waste, and it should not be touched without gloves. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards, and do not let children play in the water or in wet materials.
If someone in the household has symptoms they link to the water or to a smell in the house, speak to a doctor. A doctor is the right person to ask about health, and a crew is the right person to ask about the damage.
If the water came from a neighbor's unit, a shared wall or a common area, tell the crew at once and say so in your notes. The first steps are the same, but the source may need the owner or manager of the other space to act, and that should be recorded from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to walk through a flooded room?
Only after the electricity serving that area is off. Standing water can hide live wiring, and a flooded floor can be slippery or hide a step. If in doubt, leave the room and wait for the crew.
What if I cannot find the water shutoff?
Go to the main shutoff, which is usually near where the water line enters the house. If you cannot find it or it does not turn, call a plumber for help, and tell the water crew what you have tried.
Can I use a wet vacuum on the water?
For a small spill on a hard floor, with the power off and the vacuum in a safe place, a wet vacuum can help. For a room under standing water or water near electricity, leave it to the crew.
Should I turn off the water heater?
Switch off the power or gas to the heater and shut off its water supply if you can do so safely. If you are not sure, leave the heater alone and let the crew or a plumber make it safe.
How long do I have before mold starts?
Mold can begin on material that stays damp for a number of days, so the sooner the water is removed and the materials are dried, the better. This guide does not give a fixed number of hours, because it depends on the material and the conditions.
Should I file a claim with my insurer right away?
This guide does not advise on your policy. Keep your photographs and your written notes, and ask your insurer what it needs from you and when. The timing and the steps are for you and your insurer to agree.
Can I use a space heater to speed up drying?
No. A space heater in a damp room near wet floors and wiring creates a real risk of shock and fire, and it does not dry the wall or subfloor that matters. Leave the drying to equipment set by the crew, and keep heaters out of the wet area.
This guide is general information for Lubbock County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.