Water Damage guide from iLikeTo Fix

Water damage what to do in the first 48 hours

Burst pipes, ceiling stains, wet carpet, drying times and insurance claims. Stop the water, protect your claim, and know what a proper drying job looks like before you sign a restoration quote.

39 water damage problems, each named by the symptom you see

Sorted by the decade your house was built

Checks to run yourself and what fair repair costs look like

Find your problem Checks to run first

39 problemsEvery water damage problem we cover, on this page

4 house erasPre-1940, 1940–80, 1980–2000 and since 2000

Checks firstWhat to rule out before anyone comes out

Fair costsWhat the work costs, and what not to pay for

1Find your problem

Start with the decade your house was built. The same symptom has different causes in a 1930s house and a 2010s one, so each era lists the water damage problems that concentrate there.

Before about 1940 1940 to 1980 1980 to 2000 Since 2000 Any age

Homes built before about 1940

Galvanized supply, cast iron drains, cloth-wrapped wiring, ungrounded circuits.

All water damage in homes built before about 1940

Water under an old house after heavy rain Cast iron drain leaking below the floor Original galvanised supply burst Plaster holding water without showing it Damage from a burst pipe in a freeze Wet insulation under the floor Historic staining nobody has explained No shutoff valves at individual fixtures Sewer backing up into the lowest fixture

Homes built roughly 1940 to 1980

Copper supply, aging cast iron stacks, 60 to 100 amp panels, first-generation central air.

All water damage in homes built 1940 to 1980

Slab leak tracking under the flooring Water heater failed in the garage Ceiling stain growing after rain Carpet wet more than two days Supply hose to the washing machine Drying quoted without moisture readings Sewage backup and no rider on the policy AC condensate overflowing in the attic Damp smell in a closet on an exterior wall

Homes built roughly 1980 to 2000

Polybutylene and aluminum wiring, 150 amp panels, R-22 systems.

All water damage in homes built 1980 to 2000

Water at the base of a wall with no visible source Refrigerator or ice maker line Upstairs laundry Water heater over ten years old Restoration company recommending full demolition Storm-driven rain through a window Dishwasher leaking at the door seal Sump pump untested Standing water and live electrical

Homes built since 2000

PEX on slab, 200 amp service, builder-grade equipment failing street by street.

All water damage in homes built since 2000

Builder-grade supply connectors failing Water in a finished space below a bathroom Whole-house leak detection available New slab still releasing moisture Grade sloping back toward the foundation Tankless unit leaking at the connections Frozen hose bib on a new build Warranty still live on the plumbing Condensate pump in a closet install

Any age of home

Problems that turn up whatever the decade.

Persistent damp after drying Storm and hail-driven intrusion Freeze damage on exposed plumbing

2Checks to run first

Work through these in order before you book anyone. They cost little or nothing and often find the answer.

Stop the sourceClose the shutoff for the fixture or the whole house, and turn off a water heater that is leaking.
Photograph everything firstWide shots and close-ups of the water, the source and damaged items before you move anything. Your insurer will ask.
Start drying within 24 to 48 hoursGet air moving, run a dehumidifier and pull up wet rugs. Mold can begin to grow within one to two days.
Check where you cannot seeWater travels under flooring, behind baseboards and down inside walls. A cheap moisture meter tells you whether it is really dry.

3What water damage work costs

The short answerAccess drives the number more than materials do. Every problem page gives a range for judging a quote, and the cost guide lists the water damage work you should not be paying for at all.

Read Water Damage cost: what to expect and what to skip before you compare quotes. A quote that cannot explain what it includes, or that fixes the visible symptom while leaving the cause behind, is the one to question.

4When to call a restoration pro

Read the page for your problem first. It says whether this is a job for a pro, and what a fair price looks like before you make the call.

Speak to a local restoration pro

Calls connect to an independent local contractor. How this works.

5Questions

How long does drying take?

Most clean-water losses dry in a few days with proper equipment. A quote that cannot show moisture readings from the start and the finish is not measuring whether the job worked.

Will insurance cover water damage?

Sudden, accidental water such as a burst pipe usually is. Slow leaks, flooding and sewer backups often are not unless the policy has a specific rider. Read the policy before work starts.

Do I need a restoration company?

Small clean-water spills caught quickly can often be dried yourself. Large areas, water inside walls or ceilings, and anything from a sewer or flood should go to a pro.

Does wet drywall have to be replaced?

Not always. Drywall wet with clean water and dried quickly can often stay. Drywall that stayed wet for days, sagged, or was hit by sewage or floodwater should come out.

Written by Jaylan Jones. iLikeTo Fix earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

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