What To Do While Waiting for a Water Damage Restoration Company

The time between discovering water damage and the arrival of a restoration crew matters. The right actions in that window limit the spread of water, protect your safety, and strengthen your insurance claim. Here is exactly what to do — and what to avoid — while you wait for our team.

Make Safety the First Priority

• Turn off electricity to affected areas at the breaker if you can reach it safely
• Never walk through standing water near outlets, appliances, or submerged cords
• Watch for sagging ceilings and stay out of the room below them
• Treat any water from sewage or outdoor flooding as contaminated and keep children and pets away

Stop the Source if You Can

• Shut off the main water supply for plumbing failures
• Close the valve behind a leaking toilet, sink, or appliance
• Place buckets under active ceiling drips and puncture a small relief hole in a bulging area only if it is safe
• Cover roof openings with a tarp only if you can do so from ground level

Document Everything Before You Clean

• Photograph and video every affected room, wall, floor, and item
• Capture close-ups of the source of the water and any standing water depth
• Keep receipts for tarps, fans, hotels, and other emergency costs
• Do not throw away damaged items until they are documented

Limit the Spread of Water

• Move furniture and rugs out of wet areas or place foil and blocks under legs
• Remove books, electronics, and paper items from the floor
• Mop or blot standing water from hard surfaces if it is clean water
• Open windows only when outdoor humidity is lower than indoors

What Not To Do

• Do not use a household vacuum to remove water
• Do not run ceiling fans in a room with a wet ceiling
• Do not apply bleach or paint over water-stained surfaces
• Do not wait to see if it dries on its own — mold begins within 24 to 48 hours

When To Call a Professional

If water has been standing for more than a few hours, has reached drywall or insulation, or came from a contaminated source, call a certified restoration team. Our crews respond throughout Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and the wider Treasure Coast.

For 24/7 emergency help in Fort Pierce, call Ontime Fort Pierce Water Damage at 772-264-9821, or learn more about our water damage restoration and mold remediation services.