What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Water Damage

Water damage is time-sensitive. Clean water that sits in carpet and drywall for a day or two can become contaminated, materials that could have been dried start to swell and fail, and in Georgia's warm, humid months mold can begin growing on damp surfaces within 24 to 48 hours. This guide walks through the first day after a leak or flood in a Lawrenceville or Gwinnett County home, in the order that matters most. If you need help along the way, email [email protected] while our phone line is being set up.

Hour 0: stop the water

Stopping the source is the most valuable thing you will do all day.

• Plumbing leak: close the main shutoff. In most Gwinnett homes it is where the service line enters the house: in the basement or crawl space, in the garage, or in a utility closet near the water heater. If you cannot find it, the meter box near the street has a valve, but be careful with county equipment and use the right tool.
• Single fixture: close the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet or washer.
• Water heater: close the cold supply valve on top and switch off the gas control or breaker.
• AC overflow: turn the system off at the thermostat.
• Roof or storm leak: put containers under drips and move belongings. Do not climb onto a wet roof; a roofer can tarp it.
• Sewage backup: stop using all water in the house so more does not go down the drains.

After closing the main, open a faucet on the lowest level to drain pressure from the lines, and turn off the water heater so it does not run empty.

Hour 0–1: make the house safe

• Switch off circuits feeding wet rooms at the panel if you can reach it from a dry spot.
• Keep children and pets out of wet areas, especially if the water could be contaminated.
• Watch for slippery floors and sagging ceilings. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from under it and place a bucket below.
• Unplug and remove small electronics only if you are standing on a dry surface.
• If you have a gas appliance in a flooded area, such as a water heater or furnace in a basement, have it checked before using it again.

Hour 1: document everything

Before you move or throw anything away, take photos and video. Insurance adjusters, restoration companies and, later, contractors all rely on this record.

• The source: the split pipe, failed hose, rusted tank or roof opening.
• Each affected room, with wide shots and close-ups of floors, walls, ceilings and cabinets.
• Water lines on walls, standing water depth and stains.
• Damaged belongings, with model and serial numbers for electronics and appliances where you can.

Keep the failed part if there is one. A broken supply line, a cracked fitting or a section of burst pipe is useful evidence that the failure was sudden.

Hours 1–3: protect belongings and limit spread

• Move furniture off wet carpet, or put aluminum foil or plastic under the legs to stop stains and wicking.
• Lift area rugs, curtains and anything resting on the floor.
• Move books, photos, documents and electronics to a dry room.
• Mop or wet-vacuum standing clean water from hard floors if it is safe.
• Open interior doors and cabinet doors in the wet area to let air circulate.
• Do not use a household vacuum on wet surfaces, and do not turn on ceiling fans or lights in rooms with wet ceilings.

Hours 1–4: call the right people

Most water losses involve more than one trade. Here is who does what:

When you report the claim, write down the claim number, the adjuster's name and any instructions. Ask whether the insurer has guidelines for emergency services, and keep receipts for anything you buy or pay for.

Hours 4–24: start professional drying

Towels and box fans move water around but do not remove it from the house. In a closed, humid Georgia home, water evaporating from the floor ends up in the drywall, cabinets and furniture. Professional restoration uses measurement and equipment:

1. Moisture mapping with meters and a thermal camera to find water behind walls, under floors and in the room below.
2. Extraction of water from carpet, pad and hard surfaces.
3. Controlled removal of materials that cannot dry, such as soaked pad, swollen baseboards or the lower part of drywall.
4. Air movers and dehumidifiers sized for the space, with daily readings.
5. A drying log that shows when each material reached its dry standard.

In summer, keep windows closed unless the technician says otherwise. Humid outside air usually slows drying. In winter, cold dry air can help, and the technician may use it.

Mistakes that make water damage worse

• Waiting to see if it dries on its own. Surfaces may look dry within a day while the wall cavity and subfloor stay wet for weeks.
• Painting or patching too soon. Closing up a wet wall traps moisture and invites mold.
• Throwing out damaged items before photographing them. Adjusters need to see the loss.
• Laying new flooring on a damp slab or subfloor. It leads to cupping, adhesive failure and hidden mold.
• Cleaning sewage or floodwater without protection. It carries bacteria and chemicals.
• Turning the water back on before the repair is finished. A temporary cap or a closed fixture valve may let you restore water to the rest of the house; ask the plumber.

Lawrenceville-specific tips

• Leak adjustments: if a leak ran up your Gwinnett water bill, the county offers an adjustment on eligible accounts once in twelve months. The repair must be done within three months of the increased usage and the request filed within three months of the repair, so keep the plumber's invoice.
• Hard freezes: after events like the Christmas Eve 2022 cold snap, restoration companies across metro Atlanta get very busy. Book early and document thoroughly while you wait.
• Storms: water that comes in from outside at ground level is flood, not ordinary water damage. Check whether you have flood coverage before you assume the homeowners policy applies.
• HOAs and townhomes: if a leak crosses into another unit or a common area, notify the association in writing and share photos.

Days 2–5: what to expect next

For a typical clean-water loss, drying equipment runs for about three to five days. A technician visits daily to take readings, move equipment and remove anything that is not drying. When readings reach dry standard, the equipment comes out and rebuild can begin: new drywall, baseboard, paint and flooring. Ask for copies of the moisture logs and photos for your claim. If the water sat for a while, came from outside or came from a drain, expect more removal and a cleaning and sanitizing step before drying.

If you see or smell mold during or after drying, read mold after water damage. For the claim itself, see our Georgia water damage insurance claims guide. When you are ready for help, email [email protected] while our phone line is being set up. Back to water damage restoration in Lawrenceville, GA.

Common questions

1. Should I turn off the electricity after water damage?

   Switch off the circuits that feed wet rooms if you can reach the panel without standing in water or touching anything wet. If the panel itself is wet, water is near outlets you cannot avoid, or you are unsure, stay out of the area and call 911 or your power company. Never unplug devices while standing in water.

2. Can I use a shop vac to clean up water myself?

   For a small amount of clean water on hard floors, a wet vacuum and towels are a good start. They will not remove water trapped in carpet pad, under flooring or inside walls, and they do not dry the structure. Do not vacuum sewage or outside floodwater yourself; that is contaminated and needs protective equipment.

3. Do I need to call my insurance company right away?

   Report the loss as soon as practical. Most policies require prompt notice, and Georgia rules start the insurer's 15-day acknowledgment clock when you give notice. You do not need to wait for an adjuster before stopping the water or starting reasonable steps to prevent more damage, but keep photos and receipts for everything.

4. How do I know if the water is clean or contaminated?

   Water straight from a supply line or water heater starts clean. Water from a dishwasher, washing machine or AC drain is gray water. Sewage, toilet water with waste and any water that came in from outside are contaminated. When in doubt, treat it as contaminated: wear gloves and boots and keep children and pets away.