Guides / Water Damage
Guide · 1 min readThe first 48 hours after water damage
Mold can start within 24–48 hours. What you do first decides whether this is a cleanup or a remediation.
The cost of water damage is decided largely in the first two days. Standing water and trapped humidity can start mold within 24–48 hours, turning a straightforward cleanup into a remediation job. Speed is the cheapest tool you have.
Hour one: stop and document
Cut power to the area if it’s safe, stop the water at its source, and photograph everything before you move it — those photos matter if you end up filing a claim. Estimate the repair first with our water damage repair cost calculator.
The first day: extract and dry
Get standing water out and air moving. Fans, a dehumidifier, and open windows (if it’s dry outside) all slow mold. Pull up soaked rugs and move furniture off wet flooring.
By 48 hours: assess the structure
Check drywall, insulation, and subflooring. Porous materials that stayed wet usually need removing rather than drying. If you smell must or see dark spots, treat it as a possible mold job and read what remediation includes.