Finding water where it doesn't belong is stressful. Whether it's a burst pipe under the kitchen sink, a ceiling stain that suddenly appeared after one of our recent Utah thunderstorms, or a washing machine hose that finally gave out — the first thing to remember is: take a breath. You can get through this, and the situation is very manageable if you act quickly and in the right order.
Here's what to do, step by step, in those critical first 24 hours.
Step 1: Stop the Water Source
Before anything else, stop more water from entering. If the leak is from a burst pipe or appliance, shut off the water supply — either at the appliance's local shutoff valve or at your home's main shutoff. Know where your main valve is before you ever need it; in many Utah homes it's in the basement, utility room, or near the water heater. If you can't locate the source or safely stop the flow, call a plumber right away. Cleaning up water while more is still flowing in accomplishes very little.
Step 2: Address Electrical Safety First
If standing water is anywhere near electrical outlets, appliances, cords, or your breaker panel, do not enter that area until you've shut off power at the main breaker. Water and live electricity are a dangerous combination. Also look up before you walk in — a sagging or bulging ceiling can mean water is pooled directly above it, and it could come down without much warning.
Step 3: Document Everything Before You Clean Up
It's tempting to grab towels and start mopping immediately, but take five minutes first to photograph and video every affected area — walls, floors, ceilings, and the source of the leak itself. Include your belongings. This documentation is important for your insurance claim, and the more thorough you are now, the smoother that process tends to go later. Most insurers allow you to begin mitigation right away without waiting for an adjuster to visit — but you'll want that photo record in place first.
Step 4: Remove Standing Water and Wet Items
Use mops, towels, or a wet/dry vacuum to start removing standing water as quickly as possible. Move wet rugs, furniture, and soft furnishings to a dry area. Items like books, photographs, and upholstered furniture can absorb water and warp within the first 24 hours, so the sooner you get them out of the water, the better your chances of saving them.
Step 5: Start Drying — But Understand the Limits of DIY
Open windows if the outdoor air is drier than inside (a good bet on many Utah summer evenings). Run fans and your home's HVAC system to promote air circulation. A standard household dehumidifier can help in small spaces. However, household fans and consumer dehumidifiers have real limits — they move surface air but can't pull moisture out of wall cavities, subfloors, or insulation the way professional equipment can. Hidden water can remain trapped in structural materials long after surfaces feel dry to the touch, which is exactly how mold gets a foothold.
Step 6: Call Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurance carrier as soon as possible to report the loss. Many insurers have 24/7 claims lines. Let them know what happened, what you've documented, and what steps you've taken. Most standard homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage — a burst pipe, a failed appliance, a roof leak from storm damage — but not slow, long-term leaks from deferred maintenance. Getting the call in early sets the process in motion and protects your claim.
Step 7: Call a Restoration Professional
Industry guidance is clear that mold can begin developing within 24 to 48 hours of a water event. For anything beyond a minor drip, a professional restoration assessment within that first day is the most effective way to prevent a manageable cleanup from becoming a much larger and more expensive project. Restoration teams use thermal imaging and moisture meters to find water that's migrated well beyond the visible damage area — and industrial-grade drying equipment to remove it properly.
A Note on Waiting
The single most common mistake homeowners make is deciding to wait and see. Water doesn't stay put — it travels through drywall, along framing, into subfloors, and behind cabinets faster than most people expect. The longer moisture sits, the more materials it compromises and the higher the repair cost climbs. Acting in the first 24 hours almost always means a simpler, less disruptive restoration.
The Disaster Repair Team is available around the clock for water damage emergencies throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Tooele counties. If you're not sure whether what you're dealing with warrants a call, go ahead and call anyway — we'd rather help you determine it's minor than have you find out weeks later that it wasn't.