Burst pipe or flooded basement? Here's exactly what to do.
If water is actively flowing, do these three things right now: (1) shut off your water at the main valve, (2) if you can safely reach the breaker, cut power to the wet area, and (3) call a 24/7 restoration crew. Every hour of delay means more damage and a bigger bill. The full step-by-step for each scenario is below — but if it's an active emergency, don't wait.
Water emergency right now?
We answer live 24/7 and reach Delaware County in 60 minutes or less.
Free estimate — and we bill your insurance directly.
First Steps
Do these 5 things right now
- 1
Stop the water source.
Shut off your home's main water valve, or the supply valve at the fixture if you can pinpoint it.
- 2
Kill the power to wet areas — only if it's safe.
Never step into standing water with live electricity. If you can't reach the breaker without entering the water, stay out and let us handle it.
- 3
Stay away from sewage or contaminated water.
Sewage backups ("black water") are a health hazard — do not try to clean it yourself.
- 4
Move what you can to dry ground.
Furniture, electronics, documents, and valuables — get them out of the water.
- 5
Document everything for insurance.
Take photos and video of all the damage before you start cleaning up. This protects your claim.
Then call a professional immediately. The faster water is extracted and the structure dried, the less you lose — and the lower the chance of mold.
Who to Call
Who should you actually call?
This trips up a lot of homeowners:
A plumber stops the leak — but doesn't extract water, dry the structure, or prevent mold.
A handyman isn't equipped for water extraction, moisture mapping, or containment.
An IICRC-certified water damage restoration company (that's us) extracts the water, dries everything with industrial equipment, prevents mold, and handles your insurance claim from start to finish.
For anything beyond a small towel-and-bucket spill, call a restoration pro. If a pipe burst, call a plumber and a restoration company — they do two different jobs.
By Scenario
What to do, by scenario
Burst pipe
Shut off the main, drain the line by opening a low faucet, document it, and call us. Clean-water bursts are the cheapest to fix if caught fast.
Flooded basement
Don't enter if water is near outlets or the electrical panel. Cut power if safe, otherwise stay out and call. Standing water in a basement breeds mold quickly.
Sewage backup
Treat it as hazardous — keep people and pets away and don't touch it. This needs professional containment and disinfection.
Ceiling leak / overhead water
Place a bucket, puncture a small hole in a bulging ceiling to relieve trapped water (it'll cause less damage than a collapse), move furniture, and call.
Appliance overflow (washer, water heater, dishwasher)
Shut off the appliance's supply valve, unplug it if safe, mop what you can, and call for extraction before it wicks into walls and subfloor.
Most basement floods become a flood restoration job, and water left more than a day or two usually means mold remediation too.
Time = Damage
Why every hour counts
Mold can start within 24–72 hours of materials staying wet.
Costs climb the longer water sits — fast extraction is the cheapest outcome.
That's why we answer live around the clock and aim to be on-site in 60 minutes across Delaware County.
Curious what it'll run? See typical water damage restoration costs.
When You Call
What happens when you call us
Here's exactly what happens when you call us for an emergency in Delaware County:
A real person answers, 24/7 — not an answering machine.
We dispatch immediately and arrive in about 60 minutes.
We assess and document the damage for your insurance.
We extract, dry, and treat to stop secondary damage and mold.
We handle your claim directly with your adjuster, from first call to settlement.
We document the loss and bill your insurer directly. See how we handle insurance claims.
Don't Wait
Every minute counts — call now
A real person answers 24/7, we dispatch immediately, and we reach Delaware County in about 60 minutes. We bill your insurer directly.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Not Mid-Emergency?
Send the details — we'll call you back
Prefer to send the details first? Contact us and we'll call you right back. For an active emergency, please call — it's faster.