Every water loss has a source and a place it landed, and both change the right first move. A split supply line, a failed water heater and a sump pump that quit in a storm all leave water on the floor, but they need different shut-offs and different drying plans.
The pages below are grouped so you can find your situation quickly. Each one explains what to do first, how the work is done, what affects cost, and what to ask any company before you hire it.
How to choose the right page by where the water came from
Start with the source. Water from inside the plumbing points to burst pipe water damage, frozen pipe water damage or slab leak water damage. Water from a tank or machine points to water heater leak cleanup or appliance leak water damage.
Water from outside the house points to storm water damage cleanup or flood damage restoration. If it came up through a drain, go straight to sewage backup cleanup, because that is a safety issue first and a cleanup second.
If you only know where it is, not where it came from, pick by room or material instead. Basement water damage cleanup and wall and drywall water damage repair are the usual starting points.
What every job includes
Whatever the source, the work follows the same backbone. Standing water is removed, moisture is measured with meters and thermal imaging, and air movers and dehumidifiers dry what can be saved. Anything that cannot be dried is removed, and the readings are logged until the structure is dry.
The you get the scope and price in plain terms ahead of the work, and photos are taken so you have a record for your insurer. Restoration crews can be asked whether they work to ANSI/IICRC S500, the standard for water damage restoration, and to S520 if mold is involved.
When to call at night
The dispatch line is open 24/7, and same-day help is offered when a crew is open. Water that is still moving, a flooded lower level, or any sewage should not wait for morning, and neither should a loss that touches electrical equipment.
If you smell gas or see water near the panel, leave and call the utility or 911 first. Then call the line, and use water extraction if there is standing water to remove.