Guide

Water damage: the first 48 hours

What you do in the first two days decides how much has to be torn out later. Here is the order that matters, with the Columbus contacts you may need.

Call (380) 214-0333
Flooded finished basement with water across the floor

Hour by hour

  1. Safety first

    Keep out of standing water near electricity and out of sewage. If you smell gas, leave and call from outside.

  2. Stop the source

    Main water shut-off for a pipe; stop using drains for a backup; buckets and a tarp for a roof leak.

  3. Report and record

    Columbus sewer backups: 614-645-7102, within 24 hours. Photos of everything before cleanup.

  4. Start drying

    Extraction and drying equipment within 24 to 48 hours, before mold can take hold.

Safety

The City of Columbus's flooded basement guidance says to shut off electricity at the main box before walking in water, to wear rubber boots and gloves, and never to mix bleach with ammonia. If the panel is in the wet basement, don't wade in to reach it: call the electric utility or an electrician.

Sewage-contaminated water can carry bacteria and viruses. Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system away until it has been cleaned up.

Stop the water, then report it

For a burst pipe or a failed supply line, close the main shut-off valve and open a faucet below the leak to drain the pipes. For an appliance, close its supply valve.

For water coming up through the floor drain in Columbus, call the Sewer Maintenance Operations Center at 614-645-7102 (24 hours), or 311 / 614-645-3111, and keep the service request number (city page). A report within 24 hours is required for Project Dry Basement. In the suburbs, start with the number on your water and sewer bill.

Records

What to photograph and keep

  • The water level, with something for scale
  • Where the water came from: the pipe, the drain, the ceiling
  • Every damaged item before it is moved or thrown out
  • Receipts for anything you buy to limit the damage
  • The date and time it started, and any service request numbers
  • Your insurer's claim number, if you report it

Why 48 hours

The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth (EPA guide). Carpet pad, drywall and insulation soak up water quickly; the longer they stay wet, the more of them has to be cut out. That's why a restoration contractor will usually start with extraction and drying equipment and leave the rebuild until readings show the structure is dry.

If you plan to make an insurance claim, the Ohio Department of Insurance says to notify your agent or company right away, make the temporary repairs needed to prevent more damage and keep the receipts, and keep damaged property until the insurer says it can go (ODI homeowners guide).

Call (380) 214-0333

Air movers and a dehumidifier drying a room with the lower drywall removed

Water, smoke or mold?

Talk to a Columbus restoration contractor

One call connects you with an independent restoration contractor serving Columbus and nearby suburbs. Tell them what happened, where the water came from and how long it has been wet.

Water in the house? Talk to a restoration contractor now.

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Call (380) 214-0333

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Call (380) 214-0333