After the Flood: What to Do When Your Home Suffers Water Damage

Whether it’s the result of a heavy rainstorm or a burst pipe, standing water can ruin furnishings and damage the structural foundation of your home. Address water damage as soon as flooding stops to minimize both the damage itself and the recovery costs.


Home flooding can occur for a variety of reasons, from natural disasters to burst pipes. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: soggy carpeting and upholstery, peeling paint, mildewing fabrics, and often, the appearance of mold. Obviously, the sooner you can dry out your home and belongings, the better—but you can’t only focus on the surface damage. Standing water can also weaken your home’s infrastructure, which is why it’s a good idea to carefully examine structural supports before entering a severely flooded area. Follow certain steps and guidelines after a flood to repair your belongings and restore your home.

List the Damage

If you have homeowner’s insurance that covers water damage or flooding, call your insurance provider to inform them of the flood and file a claim. Photograph the water damage in your home and any items that will require immediate disposal, so that you have adequate records of the things that were damaged beyond repair. Also, make a list of damaged items and their value, including receipts or other documentation, where possible.

Get the Water Out

If the flood is in an area of your home that will not drain naturally, such as a below-ground basement, you need to pump the water out. While you can do this on your own using a wet vacuum or sump pump, it’s often a good idea to call in a water damage restoration company, even for minor flooding. Disaster recovery professionals have the tools and the knowledge to quickly and efficiently dry out your home.

Get Your Belongings Dry

Remove portable belongings to a dry area as soon as possible after the flood, to prevent the development of mold or mildew. The National Flood Insurance Program recommends cleaning and disinfecting soaked-through items with a pine-oil cleaner and bleach, and then monitoring them for fungal and mold growth for several days after they’ve dried. Be particularly vigilant with upholstered furniture and other fabric belongings, as these might still be damp inside for days after the exterior appears dry. Many flood restoration companies offer professional upholstery cleaning, in addition to their other services.

Monitor for Mold

Mold is a frequent aftereffect of home flooding, and most often appears in walls, carpeting, and upholstery that has been persistently damp. Mold is not just unsightly, it’s also hazardous to your health; people living with mold growth can experience allergic reactions ranging from sneezing and coughing to severe breathing problems. Stop mold in its tracks by thoroughly drying and disinfecting the flooded area, and by employing a dehumidifier in areas that remain damp. If you see visible mold growth, contact a mold removal specialist to determine the extent of the problem and to eliminate mold colonies.

Always deal with flood damage promptly and comprehensively. While it can seem expensive to hire a water damage restoration company to assess and deal with the problem, turning the task over to a pro is generally your best bet—especially if your home is insured against flood damage. A disaster recovery specialist knows exactly what to look for, whereas you might miss underlying damage that could become more dangerous and more expensive to fix the longer it goes undetected. You can’t always protect your home and family from disaster, but by being smart in your response to flooding, you can minimize the aftermath.


Penny Jones is a home improvement buff and a senior Internet marketing strategist with the local online advertising company Prospect Genius.