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Found water in the house? What to do in the first hour

Water keeps spreading into floors and walls for hours after a leak starts. Work through these steps in order while help is on the way.

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1. Check for electrical danger

If water is near outlets, extension cords, a furnace or the breaker panel, stay out of it. Shut off power to the wet area at the panel only if you can get there without stepping in water. If the panel is wet, leave it alone and tell the crew when you call.

Look up before you walk in. A ceiling that sags or has a bulge in it is holding water and can come down.

2. Stop the water

  • Pipe, supply line, water heater or appliance: close the main water shutoff. In most Omaha homes it is in the basement where the water line comes in from the street.
  • Toilet or sink overflowing: close the small valve on the wall behind or under the fixture.
  • Sewer water coming up a floor drain: stop using water anywhere in the house. Every flush and every load of laundry adds to the backup.
  • Sump pump not running: check that it has power and that the float can move freely, if you can reach it safely.
  • Rain coming in: you cannot stop the storm, but you can move things away from the water and put out buckets or tarps.

3. Call for help

Call a water damage company now, before you try to clean it up yourself. A crew can be on the road while you work through the rest of this list. Call us and we will connect you with a local company.

4. Document everything

Before anything is moved or thrown away, take photos and video of every wet room. Get wide shots that show the whole room, and close-ups of the water line on walls, damaged items and the source of the leak. Your insurance company will ask for them, and so will the city if you file a sewer backup claim.

5. Protect what you can

  • Move rugs, electronics, papers and photos up off the floor.
  • Put aluminum foil or plastic under furniture legs so stains do not transfer to wet carpet.
  • Open interior doors and closets so air can move, but keep outside windows shut in humid weather.

6. Leave these for the crew

  • Do not run a regular vacuum on wet carpet.
  • Do not use a shop vac on sewage.
  • Do not pull up flooring or cut drywall before it has been photographed and measured.
  • Do not turn the furnace or air conditioner back on if the ductwork took on water.

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Ready to get a crew headed your way?

  1. What is leaking or flooding, if you know: a pipe, the water heater, a sump pit, a floor drain, the washer, or rain coming in.
  2. Whether the water looks clean, or smells like sewer.
  3. Which rooms and floors got wet, and about how long ago it started.
  4. Whether you were able to shut off the water, and whether any wet rooms still have power on.
  5. Your neighborhood or nearest cross street in Omaha, so the call goes to a crew that works near you.

A couple of minutes on the phone is usually enough to get a local company headed your way.

Call (402) 555-0148

Free call. You do not have to hire anyone.

Common questions before you call

How long do I have before mold starts?

Mold can start growing on wet drywall, carpet pad and wood in about 24 to 48 hours. That is why getting a crew in fast matters more than cleaning up yourself.

Should I call insurance or a restoration company first?

Call to stop the damage first. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to keep damage from getting worse, and emergency water removal counts. Call your insurance company the same day.

Water damage? Call now(402) 555-0148