Key takeaways
- Stop the water source first — nothing else works until you do.
- Dry within 24–48 hours to keep mold from taking hold.
- Porous items that stay wet, like carpet pad, usually need to go.
- In older homes, test materials for asbestos before demolition.
Hour by hour: the first two days
Speed matters more than anything else after water damage.
- First hour: shut off the water source and electricity in wet areas if safe
- First hours: remove standing water and move belongings out
- Day one: open cabinets, pull back wet carpet, run fans and dehumidifiers
- Day two: check that walls, floors and subfloor are actually drying
- Take photos of everything for your insurance claim
What to keep and what to throw away
Hard, non-porous items like metal, glass and sealed wood can usually be cleaned and dried. Porous materials — carpet pad, ceiling tiles, insulation and soaked drywall — trap moisture and often need to be removed.
Before removing ceiling or wall material from an older home, remember that wet asbestos material is still asbestos. Water damage is one of the most common reasons homeowners disturb it without knowing.
The 48-hour window
Act inside this window to limit mold.
- 10–6 hours
Stop water
Remove standing water
- 26–24 hours
Dry
Fans, dehumidifiers
- 324–48 hours
Decide
Remove what will not dry
When the job is too big to handle yourself
The EPA suggests that mold covering more than about 10 square feet, contaminated HVAC systems, or sewage-water damage are good reasons to bring in a professional. People with asthma, allergies or weakened immune systems should avoid cleanup work.
American Heritage Environmental only tests for asbestos. We do not test for mold or lead, and we never sell or perform removal of any kind.