Sources: U.S. EPA (updated 2026), Ready.gov (updated October 2026) and the Florida Department of Financial Services (June 2025). Links below.
What to do after water damage comes down to four things, in this order: make the area safe, stop the water at its source, photograph the damage, and get everything dry within 24 to 48 hours. The U.S. EPA says that drying window is what keeps mold from growing. In a Central Florida house, where the air stays warm and humid most of the year, the clock is short.
We handle water damage mitigation across Winter Haven and Polk County, so we see the same mistakes over and over: a shop vac and a box fan, a wall that looks dry but isn't, a carpet thrown out before anyone took a picture. This guide walks through the first hours and days in plain steps, using guidance from the EPA, Ready.gov and the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Contents
- What should I do immediately after water damage?
- Why the first 24 to 48 hours matter
- How do pros fix water damage?
- Can I clean up water damage myself?
- Do you have to replace drywall after water damage?
- Documenting the damage for your insurance company
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- When to call for water damage help in Winter Haven and Polk County
- Water damage FAQ
What should I do immediately after water damage?
Work through these steps in order. Safety comes before saving anything, and photos come before cleanup.
1. Make the area safe
Water and electricity are the first danger. Ready.gov's flood guidance says not to touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water, and to stay out of floodwater, which can be contaminated and hide debris (Ready.gov, Floods). If water has reached outlets, cords or the electrical panel, keep out of the room and call your power company or a licensed electrician. After a storm, check for sagging ceilings or other structural damage before you walk in.
2. Stop the water at the source
For a burst pipe, a failed water heater or a leaking supply line, shut off the main water valve. It is usually where the water line enters the house; if you have never looked for yours, find it now. If the water is coming through the roof, the roof has to be covered before the inside can dry. That is the job of emergency roof tarping, and the Florida Department of Financial Services lists a roof tarp as the kind of emergency repair a homeowner should make to prevent further damage.
3. Photograph everything before you move it
Take photos and video of every wet room, the source of the water, and each damaged item before you clean, move or throw anything away. Get wide shots of each room and close-ups of stains, swollen trim and damaged belongings. The step-by-step section below covers what to keep.
4. Call your insurance company
The Florida Department of Financial Services says your first step after property damage is to contact your insurance company and file a claim as soon as possible (Florida DFS, Getting Help with Your Property Insurance Claim, June 2025). Coverage questions belong with your insurer. If you are unhappy with how your claim is handled, DFS runs a free Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
5. Get the water out and start drying
Remove standing water as soon as it is safe to do so. Then the real work starts: drying the floor, walls and anything that soaked up water. Open interior doors, keep the air conditioning running to help pull humidity out of the air, and move rugs and furniture off wet floors. The aim is to have wet areas dry within 24 to 48 hours.
6. Move your belongings out of the wet area
Furniture sitting on a wet floor keeps wicking water and blocks drying. Lift it onto blocks or move it to a dry room. For a bigger loss, a contents pack-out gets your belongings inventoried, packed and out of the work zone while the house dries.
7. Watch for mold
A musty smell, spotting on drywall or baseboards, or stains that keep growing after the water is gone are signs that moisture is still in the structure. That is the point where it stops being a drying job and becomes mold remediation.
Why the first 24 to 48 hours matter
The EPA's guide to mold and moisture is direct about it: dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth (EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, updated February 2026). Its flood cleanup guidance repeats the same window for your home and everything in it.
Water also moves faster than most people expect. What looks like a puddle on the floor is usually a fraction of the problem. Within hours it soaks into subfloor, insulation and the bottom of the walls, where you can't see it. In Central Florida's heat and humidity, a day or two of wet materials is all mold needs.
How do pros fix water damage?
Professional water damage mitigation follows the same order every time, whether the water came from a pipe, a roof leak, a storm or an appliance:
- Stop the source and remove standing water. Extraction comes first, because every gallon left on the floor keeps soaking in.
- Dry what you can't see. Commercial air movers and dehumidifiers are placed to pull moisture out of building materials, not just the surface.
- Remove what can't be saved. Some materials, like wet insulation, have to come out so the cavity behind them can dry.
- Measure until it is actually dry. Different materials give up water at different rates, so moisture readings decide when drying is done, not how the wall feels to the touch.
Throughout the job we document the affected areas and each step we take, which is the record your insurance company will want to see.
Can I clean up water damage myself?
Sometimes. A small spill of clean water on tile, caught right away and dried the same day, is a towel-and-fan job. A few things change that answer:
- Where the water came from. Floodwater, a sewage backup or a toilet overflow is not clean water. Ready.gov warns that floodwater can be contaminated, so treat it as a health hazard and keep children and pets away.
- Where it went. If water got under flooring, into the bottom of the walls or into the ceiling, household fans will dry the surface and leave the moisture behind. That hidden moisture is where rot and mold start.
- How long it sat. Past the 24 to 48 hour mark, mold becomes the bigger risk. The EPA says a moldy area under about 10 square feet is, in most cases, a job you can handle yourself. Anything bigger is worth a professional look.
Do you have to replace drywall after water damage?
Not always. The EPA's table for responding to water damage within 24 to 48 hours says drywall may be dried in place if there is no obvious swelling and the seams are intact. If it has swollen or the seams have opened, it needs to be removed and replaced (EPA, Mold Remediation Guide, Table 1, updated September 2026). Here is how that table treats the materials we see most in Florida homes:
| Wet material | EPA guidance (within 24 to 48 hours) |
|---|---|
| Drywall | May be dried in place if not swollen and the seams are intact. If not, remove and replace. Ventilate the wall cavity if possible. |
| Carpet and pad | Remove water with an extraction vacuum, lower the humidity with a dehumidifier, and speed drying with fans. |
| Fiberglass insulation | Discard and replace. |
| Ceiling tiles | Discard and replace. |
| Wood | Remove moisture right away and dry with dehumidifiers, gentle heat and fans. |
| Tile, vinyl and other hard surfaces | Vacuum or wipe with water and mild detergent, then let dry. |
Source: EPA, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Table 1. Floodwater and sewage call for more caution than this table covers.
Fast drying often saves drywall and flooring that would otherwise be torn out. When materials are too far gone, we remove them safely as part of the drying and document what came out.
Documenting the damage for your insurance company
Good records protect you no matter how your claim turns out. The Florida Department of Financial Services and the University of Florida's IFAS Extension give the same basic list:
- Photos and video before repairs. DFS says to take photos before and after any emergency repair, such as a roof tarp or plywood over a window.
- Keep every receipt. Save receipts for emergency repairs, supplies and equipment rental.
- Make a list of damaged items with product details. UF/IFAS suggests bills of sale, canceled checks or card statements to show what each item was worth (UF/IFAS Extension, Six Steps in Making an Insurance Claim, revised November 2023).
- Don't rush to throw things out. DFS advises disposing only of damaged items that present a health risk, and photographing them first.
- Write down dates and names: when the damage happened, when you reported it, your claim number, and who you spoke with.
Questions about what your policy pays for, or how to handle the claim itself, go to your insurance company or the DFS helpline.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
It depends on where the water came from and what your policy says. Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a pipe that bursts, along with the mitigation needed to keep it from getting worse. Flooding is different: FEMA notes that a standard homeowners policy typically does not cover flood damage, which takes a separate flood policy (FEMA FloodSmart, What flood insurance covers). Your insurer is the one to confirm what your policy covers.
When to call for water damage help in Winter Haven and Polk County
Call a professional when the water came from outside or from a sewer line, when it reached walls, subfloor or ceilings, when you can't stop the source, or when you notice a musty smell days later. We answer 24/7 and serve Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bartow, Auburndale, Lake Wales, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Eagle Lake, along with Tampa, Orlando, Kissimmee, Clermont, Sarasota and Bradenton.
The same local crew handles the tarp, the extraction, the drying and the documentation, so you aren't coordinating separate companies while your house is wet. See how our water damage mitigation service works, or call (863) 269-2565.
Water damage FAQ
How can I tell if I have water damage in my house?
Look for stains or bubbling paint on ceilings and walls, baseboards or drywall that feel soft or look swollen, floors that have cupped or lifted, and a musty smell that doesn't go away. A water bill that jumps for no reason can point to a hidden leak. Moisture readings confirm what you can't see.
Does insurance pay for water restoration?
Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, along with the mitigation needed to stop it getting worse. Flood damage usually needs a separate flood policy. Coverage depends on the source and your policy, so confirm with your insurer. We document the damage and the drying for your records.
Can water damage be fixed in a house?
Often, yes, if drying starts soon enough. Fast, thorough drying frequently saves drywall, flooring and framing that would otherwise have to be torn out. Materials that are too damaged to save are removed so the structure behind them can dry.
How fast can mold grow after water damage?
The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. In Central Florida's heat and humidity, wet materials left longer than that are at real risk.
Should I throw away wet carpet?
Not right away. Photograph it first, because the Florida Department of Financial Services advises disposing only of damaged items that present a health risk. EPA guidance says carpet wet with clean water can often be dried with extraction, dehumidifiers and fans. Carpet soaked by floodwater or sewage is a different case and is usually not worth saving.
Is it safe to stay in my house after water damage?
Stay out of any room where water has reached outlets, cords or the electrical panel, and out of standing floodwater, which can be contaminated. If the water was clean and the power is safe, many families stay home while the drying equipment runs.