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What to Do Right Now After Water, Fire, Sewage or Mold Damage
Pick what is happening. You will get the first steps for the next few minutes, what not to do, and the number to call.
Water coming in from a pipe, fixture or the apartment above
In the next few minutes
- Shut the nearest valve: behind the toilet, under the sink, or the apartment valve. In a building, call the super to close the riser.
- Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can reach it from a dry spot.
- Keep everyone out from under a ceiling that bulges or sags.
- Move rugs, electronics and papers out of the water, and put foil or blocks under furniture legs.
- Photograph the water, the source and your belongings before cleaning up.
- Call us for extraction, and tell the super and your insurer.
Do not
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water.
- Do not poke a bulging ceiling from underneath.
- Do not close up or paint anything that got wet.
After a fire, or smoke in your home
In the next few minutes
- If there is any fire or smoke now, get out and call 911.
- Wait until the fire department releases the building before going back in.
- Call your insurer and ask about additional living expenses.
- Photograph every room, closet and cabinet before anything is moved.
- Call us to board up openings and remove the firefighting water.
- Keep windows closed if soot is loose, and leave the heat and air conditioning off.
Do not
- Do not wipe soot with a damp cloth.
- Do not wash smoky clothes at home first.
- Do not turn on electronics that were near the fire.
Sewage from a drain, or flood water from outside
In the next few minutes
- If water is rising where people are, get out and call 911.
- Stay out of the water until the power to that area is off.
- Stop running water and flushing if sewage is coming up a drain.
- Keep children and pets away from the water entirely.
- Photograph the water line and where the water came in, from a safe spot.
- Call us for pump-out, removal and disinfection, and call your insurer.
Do not
- Do not wade into water near outlets or appliances.
- Do not mop sewage with household cleaners.
- Do not keep carpet or pad that touched sewage.
Mold on walls, or a musty smell after a leak
In the next few minutes
- Find and stop any water you can see, such as a drip under a sink.
- Keep the door to the room closed and run the bathroom fan or a dehumidifier.
- Photograph the growth and note how big it is.
- Tell the super or managing agent in writing if you rent or live in a building.
- Call us to trace the moisture and remove the mold inside containment.
Do not
- Do not scrub or sand mold on drywall or plaster.
- Do not paint over it.
- Do not run fans that blow air across the growth.
Before the crew arrives
Why these steps matter
These steps are for the first few minutes, before anyone arrives. They keep people safe and limit the damage, and they are the same steps our crews ask about when you call. Everything after that, such as extraction, drying, soot cleaning and mold removal, needs equipment and readings on site.
If you are not sure which of the four fits, call anyway and describe what you see. For more detail on any of these, our articles cover each situation in depth, including who to call first and what the first days after a fire look like.
One number for water, fire and mold
Still not sure what to do? Call.
A person answers day and night and talks you through it while a crew is on the way.
Tell us what happened and where the water or smoke is now. We will tell you what to do in the next few minutes and when a crew can be there.