Something else. The first aid is the same.
Whatever the source, the EPA's 24 to 48 hour drying window applies to anything that got wet.
What is probably happening
- Water from a source the tree did not list: a fridge line, an aquarium, a window left open, an AC condensate line, a sprinkler, a radiator.
- The same three questions decide everything: is it still running, is it clean or contaminated, and how long has it been wet.
- Clean water inside 24 hours is a drying job you may handle. Anything with sewage, or anything wet past 48 hours, is a job for a company.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Stop the source. Fixture valve, appliance valve, or the main.
- If it is anything but clean water, keep people and pets out and put on rubber boots and gloves (CDC).
- Get the standing water up, then fans and a dehumidifier, doors open.
- Pull baseboards on wet walls and lift the carpet edge.
- Photograph everything before you move it.
- Call restoration if it is more than one room, went under flooring, or is contaminated. Call a plumber if the source is a pipe or fixture you cannot shut off.
Do not
- Do not use a plugged-in vacuum or pump while standing in water (CDC).
- Do not mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner (CDC).
- Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits or a work contract at the door tonight.
Who to call
A water damage restoration company
Once the source is stopped, drying is the job, and restoration is the trade that meters, dries and logs it. A plumber is for a source that will not stop.
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What it should cost
$1,383 to $6,369
Water damage restoration, typical range, national average $3,868, full span $450 to $16,000. Clean water $3.50, gray $5.25, black $7.50 per square foot.
Source: Angi, water damage restoration cost, updated September 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the water damage page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- Which S500 water category and class are you assigning to my loss, and why?
- Will you leave a daily moisture log and readings, tied to the scope?
- Are you asking me to sign an Assignment of Benefits, and what happens if I do not?
- Then ask the seven questions every contractor should answer: licence number, certificate of insurance, who does the work, written scope, call-out fee, warranty, and start date.
End the call if
- A large deposit up front.
- An Assignment of Benefits pushed at you on the spot.
- A knock on the door after a storm.