Make the area safe first
Do not enter standing water where outlets, extension cords, panels or gas appliances are submerged, and do not use household vacuums on water. Where safe, shut power to the affected circuits at the panel. Treat any sewage backup as contaminated and keep children and pets out entirely.
Stop the water
Close the fixture shut-off if there is one, otherwise close the main supply valve — usually near the water meter in the basement. For a failed water heater or laundry line, isolate that appliance. If water is entering from outside or from a shared building system, contact the property manager or municipality.
Protect contents and slow the spread
Lift what you can before it absorbs more water.
- Move electronics, documents and photos to a dry level
- Lift rugs, bedding, curtains and cardboard boxes off wet floors
- Put foil or blocks under furniture legs to stop finish transfer
- Remove standing water from hard surfaces if it is safe
- Open interior doors so air can move between rooms
Record what happened
Photograph and video every affected room before anything is moved or removed, including the source, water lines on walls, and damaged contents. Keep receipts for anything you buy or replace. This record is what supports a claim later.
What not to do
Do not delay the call hoping the space will dry on its own, do not run heat alone in a closed room, and do not close up or repaint a wall that was wet. Trapped moisture behind a finished surface is the most common cause of secondary damage and mould complaints weeks after the original event.
Then call for assessment
Call us with what you know: where the water came from, how long it has been there and which rooms are affected. We will assess, extract and begin controlled drying, and document the work for your records.