What to Do After Water Damage: The First 48 Hours

The first 48 hours after water damage

Stop the water, stay clear of wet electrical, photograph everything, then get it drying. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. In a Charleston summer that clock is real: the air outside won't dry anything for you.

Updated October 28, 2026 · Sources listed at the end

Hour one

Shut off the water. The valve under the sink or toilet, the cold inlet on top of the water heater, or the main shutoff. Know where yours is before you need it.
Power. Keep away from cords and outlets sitting in water. If you can reach the breaker panel while standing somewhere dry, turn off the circuits for wet rooms.
Photos and video of every wet room and the source, before you move anything. The SC Department of Insurance says to take photos or videos of the damaged areas and personal property.
Call your insurer if you plan to claim, and note the claim number and the time you called.

The rest of day one

Pick up rugs and anything else on the floor. Put foil or blocks under furniture legs that stay.
Soak up standing water with a wet vac or towels.
Keep the house closed and the AC running. In humid weather, open windows bring in more moisture than they take out.
Don't run the central system's fan if water got into ducts or the air handler closet.
Save samples of damaged flooring or a strip of carpet for the adjuster if you must throw the rest out.

Day two

If drywall or the subfloor got wet, fans alone usually aren't enough. A restoration company measures moisture inside walls and floors, removes what won't dry, and sets dehumidifiers. Fixr says extraction and drying take at least three days. Ask for the moisture readings at the start and the end.

When the water came from outside

Flood water and sewage are contaminated. Wear boots and gloves. Keep children and pets out, and expect porous materials it touched to come out. A homeowners policy doesn't cover flood; a flood policy does. Flood and storm cleanup.

What not to do

Don't use a household vacuum on water.
Don't close up a wet wall with paint or patch.
Don't sign a form that assigns your insurance benefits without reading it. What to check first.

Questions Charleston homeowners ask

How do you fix a house with water damage?

Stop the water, then get it out and dry the structure fast. Wet carpet pad and drywall that stayed wet usually have to be cut out; framing and subfloors can often be dried in place with fans and dehumidifiers. Moisture readings should show the materials are dry before anything is closed up. Then the rebuild.

How fast does mold start after a leak?

The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. In a Charleston summer, when the outdoor dew point is often above 70°F, a closed-up wet room doesn't dry on its own.

Should I call the plumber or the restoration company first?

Stop the water yourself at the valve, then call both. The plumber fixes the source; the restoration company deals with what got wet. If you plan to claim, call your insurer the same day.