The first 24 hours after a leak, flood or burst pipe decide how much of your property can be saved. Water spreads into walls and subfloors within minutes, drywall and wood start swelling within hours, and mold can start in 24 to 48 hours. Here’s what to do and what professional water damage restoration looks like across the four states All Dry USA serves: Florida, Texas, New Jersey and New York. For immediate help, call 1-888-998-2379, 24/7.
Water Damage Timeline: Why Speed Matters
- Minutes: Water spreads across floors and wicks into drywall, baseboards and carpet pad. Furniture finishes and paper goods stain.
- 1 to 24 hours: Drywall swells and crumbles, wood floors start to cup, metal begins to tarnish, and odors develop.
- 24 to 48 hours: Mold can begin to grow, especially in Florida and Gulf Coast humidity. Doors and windows may warp.
- Days to weeks: Structural wood, subfloors and insulation degrade. Mold spreads inside walls, and costs rise sharply.
What to Do in the First Hour
- Stop the water. Shut the main water valve or the fixture’s supply valve.
- Make it safe. Turn off power to wet areas if you can reach the breaker safely. Stay out of sagging ceilings and standing water near outlets.
- Document it. Take photos and video of the source and every affected room.
- Protect belongings. Move electronics, documents, rugs and furniture to a dry area. Put foil or blocks under furniture legs.
- Call a professional restoration company and your insurance carrier.
Know Your Water Category
The IICRC S500 standard sorts water damage by contamination, which determines what can be dried in place and what must be removed:
- Category 1, clean water: Broken supply lines, faucets, ice maker lines. Often dried in place if addressed quickly.
- Category 2, gray water: Washing machine and dishwasher overflows, some toilet overflows. Requires cleaning and antimicrobial treatment.
- Category 3, black water: Sewage, flood water, storm surge. Porous materials like carpet and drywall usually have to be removed, and the area sanitized.
Clean water that sits for days can degrade to a higher category, another reason to act fast.
The Professional Water Damage Restoration Process
- Inspection and moisture mapping with thermal imaging and moisture meters to find all the water, including inside walls and under flooring.
- Water extraction with truck-mounted and portable extractors.
- Selective removal of materials that can’t be saved, such as soaked carpet pad, swollen drywall and wet insulation.
- Structural drying with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers, with daily moisture readings documented for your insurer.
- Cleaning and antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold and odors.
- Repairs and reconstruction: drywall, flooring, cabinets, paint and trim, completed by the same team.
Water Damage Risks in Each State We Serve
Florida
Hurricanes, tropical storms, roof leaks, AC condensate overflows and aging plumbing in homes from the 1960s through 1980s. High humidity makes fast drying critical. See Florida water damage restoration.
Texas
Gulf Coast hurricanes and flash flooding in Houston, hail and severe storms in Dallas–Fort Worth, winter freezes that burst pipes statewide, and slab leaks under foundations. See Texas water damage repair.
New Jersey
Nor’easters, coastal flooding at the Shore, basement seepage, and frozen pipes in older homes across Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Monmouth counties. See our New Jersey restoration services.
New York
Burst pipes in winter, ice dams, unit-to-unit leaks in apartment buildings, and basement flooding on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley. See New York water damage restoration and our guide to burst pipes in New York.
Working With Your Insurance Company
- Report the claim promptly, and take reasonable steps to prevent more damage. Policies require it.
- Keep damaged materials or photos of them until the adjuster has seen them.
- Ask for the drying logs and moisture readings. All Dry USA provides these and bills most insurance carriers directly.
- Flood damage from rising water usually needs separate flood coverage. Learn more at FloodSmart.gov.
Related Guides
See our mold remediation FAQ, our guide to wind-driven rain and storm water damage, and our commercial water damage services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to dry out water damage?
Most residential water damage dries in three to five days with commercial equipment. Hardwood floors, plaster, concrete and large commercial losses can take longer. We take daily moisture readings and only pull equipment when materials reach their dry standard.
Can I just use fans to dry water damage?
Household fans move surface air but don’t remove moisture trapped in walls, subfloors and insulation. Without commercial dehumidifiers and moisture monitoring, hidden water often leads to mold and warped materials weeks later.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Sudden, accidental water damage like a burst pipe or failed water heater is usually covered. Gradual leaks and flood water usually aren’t under a standard policy. Flood requires separate flood insurance.
What are the categories of water damage?
The IICRC S500 standard defines Category 1 (clean water, like a supply line), Category 2 (gray water, like a washing machine overflow) and Category 3 (black water, like sewage or flood water). Higher categories require more removal and sanitizing.
Dealing with water damage right now? Call All Dry USA 24/7 at 1-888-998-2379. We serve Florida, Texas, New Jersey and New York, offer free inspections, and work directly with your insurance company. All Dry USA is a division of All Repair and Restoration.