When you experience water damage in your home it can be very traumatic and will require quick action to minimize damage.  It is always best to call a professional that is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC), which is a non-profit organization that develops standards and certifies individuals and companies.  *Go to www.iicrc.org to learn more

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Depending on the circumstances, the damage caused by the water may be covered by your Homeowners Insurance policy, but not always.  Immediately, notify your insurance company to identify if the water loss is covered or not.  They may have a vendor program where they will refer you to a certified professional.  It is your responsibility to stop the water from entering your home as soon as possible and to try to minimize the damage it causes.  Some homeowners will try to self-mitigate by mopping/vacuuming up the water and placing a fan on the wet area, but many times there is hidden water damage beneath flooring or under cabinets, inside walls, etc. that requires professional tools & equipment.   Days later they start to smell musty, moldy odors which can be an indicator of hidden water damage.

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So, your best option is to hire a professional that is IICRC certified in water damage restoration and understands the industry standard for professional water damage restoration, the IICRC S500-2021 version.  You can buy a copy from the

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IICRC webstore at https://iicrc.gilmoreglobal.com/en/category/614b 68bc-24f3-4cdd-ad25-7e6f409eedf9 . They also have a Search feature on their website for finding a local IICRC professional - https://iicrc.org/iicrcgloballocator/ .

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In cases where the water loss in your home is NOT covered by your Homeowners Insurance policy and you can’t afford to hire a professional, see some Tips below that might help you:

1. Stop the water source immediately by turning off the water supply to it. Time is of the essence because the longer materials sit in contact with water microorganisms can start to grow, like mold.
2. Be careful of slippery floors when they are wet and unplug any electrical appliances that are in the wet area.  They can pose a serious health risk.  *Be sure your hands and feet are dry as you unplug those appliances
3. Document initial damages by taking photos of all affected rooms showing standing water and wet materials.
*Taking a video of the damage is a good idea, but remember water follows the path of least resistance and goes down due to gravity so you won’t be able to see everywhere the water travelled.
4. Separate the affected rooms from the unaffected by closing doors or placing plastic sheeting to zone-off the wet areas from the unaffected areas.  
*Be careful of using tape for it can pull off finishes – test in unobtrusive area first
5. Remove standing water - removing as much water as possible. Use mops, towels, or a wet/dry vacuum to soak up or vacuum up standing water.
6. Ventilate the wet areas – by opening windows, turning on ceiling fans, bathroom exhaust fans, oven vent hood fans, etc.  Place a box fan if you have one to help evaporate moisture from materials.
7. Use your HVAC system to help ventilate the air (air conditioning in the warmer months and heater in the colder months).  
*Your air conditioner is a dehumidifier and can help remove water vapor from the air in your home
8. Place air movers and dehumidifiers in the wet areas – you can rent air movers and dehumidifiers from your local building supply store (Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc.).
9. Take moisture readings to identify what is wet – you can purchase an inexpensive moisture meter from the same store you rented the air movers and dehumidifiers from, many times for less than $50. Penetrating moisture meter is the most accurate but will require you to push 2 small pins into wet materials to see if they are wet.  
‍*Important all wood materials are returned to less than 20% moisture content to prevent destructive mold growth from occurring if using a penetrating moisture meter
10. You may need to open areas to have better circulation of air to wet surfaces, like taking off toe kicks of wet cabinets or vanities, taking off wet baseboards, removing wet carpet pad from under wet carpet, etc.
11. After extraction of water spray a disinfectant to inhibit the growth of mold on wet surfaces.  
‍*Can be purchased at the same building supply store where you rented the air movers and dehumidifiers **Get a disinfectant that kills 99.9% of microorganisms and follow label directions
12. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in wet areas or handling wet materials, especially when spraying disinfectants or if there is visible mold.  *N-95 face mask and nitrile gloves are most important ** If it is a sewage loss or extensive mold you may need to call a professional

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Remember – it is always best to hire a local IICRC certified company, if possible, or at least hire them to assist with developing your drying plan and verify all materials returned to an acceptable moisture level.  You can ask for an estimate if paying out of pocket.  If you have extensive visible mold, live in an older home where there could be wet asbestos containing materials (ACM), or it is a sewage loss, then hiring a professional becomes much more important.

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Go to the EPA website to download a free copy of Mold, Moisture, and Your Home to learn more about mold -
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf

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