Water damage is harm to a house or its contents caused by water from a leak, a burst pipe, a roof failure, an appliance, a sewer backup or a flood. Some of it is a stain you can repaint. Some of it is hidden inside walls and floors, where it leads to mold, rot and failed finishes. The type of water and the speed of your response decide how much it costs.
If you are standing in a wet room right now, you are not alone, and you have time to do this properly. Start with the safety steps below, then come back to the rest. In this guide I will explain what to do in the first 48 hours, how to tell clean water from contaminated water, what can be saved, what restoration costs in 2026, and what insurance usually pays for.
Short answer
Keep out of water near wiring, then stop the water, photograph everything and call your insurer. Start drying within 24 to 48 hours, because the CDC and EPA say mold can begin after that. Fixr puts restoration at about $3,000 on average, with most jobs between $1,200 and $5,000. Insurance usually pays for sudden damage, not slow leaks or outside flooding.
You can handle it
Small and clean
Clean water, a small area, dried within a day or two.
Get help
Large or hidden
Water inside walls, under floors or spread across several rooms.
Call a pro now
Unsafe or contaminated
Sewage, floodwater, wet wiring, or a sagging ceiling.
What Should You Do First After Water Damage?
Do these steps in order. Below I am sharing what the CDC and EPA advise, in plain terms.
- Make it safe: The CDC says to turn off power at the main breaker if circuits or equipment are wet. If you would have to enter standing water to reach it, call an electrician first.
- Stop the water: Close the main water shutoff, or the valve at the fixture. Know where the main shutoff is before you need it.
- Check the ceiling: Keep out from under a sagging ceiling, because it can hold a lot of water.
- Record the damage: Take photos and video before you move things, and keep every receipt.
- Call your insurer: Ask what they need before you throw anything away.
- Start drying: Remove standing water, take up wet rugs and padding, and run fans and a dehumidifier.
- Protect your health: Wear gloves, boots and an N-95 respirator for anything dirty or moldy.
The EPA says that if a flooded home cannot be dried within 24 to 48 hours, you should assume mold is growing. If you run a generator, keep it outside and at least 20 feet from the building.
Clean, Gray or Black Water: What Type Do You Have?
Restoration companies sort water by contamination, and the industry standard, IICRC S500, uses three categories. Fixr describes the same groups as clean, gray and black water. Clean water that sits for days can become contaminated, so treat older leaks with more care. Black water carries fecal matter and needs a professional.
Before you touch anything, ask where the water came from. Outside floodwater counts as contaminated even when it looks clear.
What Can Be Saved and What Must Go?
Materials differ in how much water they can take. Below I am sharing the usual outcome by material in a table.
| Material | Usually saved if | Usually replaced if |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall | It stays firm and dries quickly | It sags, crumbles or grew mold |
| Wall insulation | Rarely, once soaked | It is wet; it dries slowly in the wall |
| Carpet and padding | Clean water and fast drying; padding often goes | Gray or black water, or long wet time |
| Hardwood floors | Boards flatten as they dry | Buckled, black or moldy boards |
| Framing lumber | Usually, once dried and checked | Soft, rotted wood |
| Concrete and masonry | Usually; clean and dry | Rarely |
| Upholstery and mattresses | Clean water, dried quickly | Anything touched by floodwater |
As the table shows, hard materials usually survive and soft, porous materials usually do not. The EPA advises throwing out anything wet with floodwater that cannot be fully cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours. Our guides to a water stain on the ceiling and wood floor water damage show how to judge those two surfaces.
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How to Find Hidden Water Damage
Water travels along pipes, joists and subfloors, so damage often appears far from the source. Below I am sharing the signs to check once the area looks dry.
- Soft spots: Press on drywall and floors. A spongy feel means trapped water.
- Stains and bubbling paint: These show where water has moved.
- Musty smell: A smell that returns after cleaning points to hidden dampness.
- Moisture meter readings: Compare the wet area with a dry area of the same material.
- Floors that cup: Wood boards with raised edges have moisture under them.
- The space below: Check the basement ceiling or crawl space. Our flooded crawl space guide covers what to do if the water reached it.
How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?
Fixr puts water damage restoration at about $3,000 on average, with most jobs between $1,200 and $5,000. Below I am sharing its typical prices in a table.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Clean water extraction | $3.75–$4.25 per sq ft |
| Gray water extraction | $4.10–$6.50 per sq ft |
| Black water extraction | $7–$7.50 per sq ft |
| Drywall restoration | $1.50–$3 per sq ft |
| Carpet restoration | $4.75–$10.50 per sq ft |
| Hardwood restoration | $10–$15 per sq ft |
| Mold cleanup | $4.75–$5.50 per sq ft |
| Electrical repairs | $1,500–$10,000 |
As the table shows, the type of water changes the extraction price, and the finishes drive the rest of the bill. Use this formula for a first estimate:
Total cost = area × extraction price + area × price of each finish
Example: Suppose a washing machine hose floods a 200-square-foot carpeted room with gray water, and 150 square feet of drywall is wet. Extraction at $4.10 to $6.50 costs $820 to $1,300, carpet at $4.75 to $10.50 costs $950 to $2,100, and drywall at $1.50 to $3 costs $225 to $450. The total is about $2,000 to $3,850.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Insurance depends on the cause, not on the amount of water. Below I am sharing the usual position in a table, but your policy decides.
| Cause | Usually covered? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Burst pipe | Yes | The pipe repair itself may not be |
| Sudden appliance failure | Usually | The appliance may not be |
| Slow leak | Usually no | Treated as maintenance |
| Sewer or sump backup | Usually no | Needs an added endorsement |
| Outside flooding | No | Needs flood insurance |
| Mold | Limited | Usually only after a covered event |
As the table shows, the word that matters is "sudden". Report damage quickly, keep records, and make reasonable temporary repairs, because a delay can harm your claim.
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Benefits and Possible Drawbacks of Hiring a Restoration Company
Below I am sharing the benefits first.
- Speed: Crews bring pumps and drying equipment at once.
- Measurements: Moisture readings show when the structure is really dry.
- Records: Daily logs support your insurance claim.
Below I am sharing the possible drawbacks.
- Cost: Small clean-water jobs may not justify a professional crew.
- Pressure: Do not sign an authorization you do not understand while you are stressed.
- Overscoping: Ask why each wall or floor must be removed, and ask to see the moisture readings.
So, What Should You Do About Your Water Damage?
The answer depends on the water and the spread.
- If it is a small clean-water spill: Dry it yourself and watch it for a week.
- If it is a ceiling stain: Find the source first, then repair the ceiling.
- If water got inside walls or under floors: Get moisture readings before you close anything up.
- If it is sewage or floodwater: Stay out and call a professional.
- If wiring got wet: Keep the power off until an electrician checks it.
- If you will claim on insurance: Call your insurer before major work, except emergency steps to stop more damage.
What You Should Do: Find your main water shutoff today and show everyone in the house where it is. That one step can save you thousands.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Water Damage
- Walking into water before the power is off: Wet wiring can kill.
- Waiting to start drying: Mold can begin within a day or two.
- Painting over a wet stain: The stain and the moisture will come back.
- Trusting a dry surface: The wall behind it may still be wet.
- Throwing items away before recording them: Your insurer may ask for proof.
- Heating a closed room: Heat without airflow can spread moisture into other rooms.
- Ignoring the source: Repairs fail if the leak continues.
Conclusion
Water damage costs less when you act fast and in order. Make the house safe, stop the water, record everything, and start drying within 24 to 48 hours. The source of the water decides who should clean it, and the finishes decide the bill, which averages about $3,000. Insurance usually pays for sudden events, not slow leaks or outside flooding. For more help, browse our guides to water damage, leaks and drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who do I call for water damage?
Call a plumber if a pipe or fixture is leaking, and a roofer if the roof is the source. Call your insurer the same day if you plan to claim. For large or contaminated losses, call a water damage restoration company. Call an electrician if water has reached wiring or the panel.
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What qualifies as water damage?
Water damage is any harm to a building or its contents caused by water, from a stained ceiling to a flooded room. Insurers separate it by cause. Sudden events, such as a burst pipe, are usually covered, while slow leaks and outside flooding are usually not.
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How expensive is it to fix water damage in a house?
Fixr puts water damage restoration at about $3,000 on average, with most jobs between $1,200 and $5,000. A small cleanup can cost a few hundred dollars. Jobs with sewage, structural damage or electrical repairs can cost much more, so the source and the spread of the water matter most.
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Will insurance pay for water damage?
Standard homeowners insurance usually pays for sudden, accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe. It usually does not pay for gradual leaks, poor maintenance or outside flooding, which needs a separate flood policy. Sewer backup usually needs an added endorsement. Read your policy and report damage quickly.
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What should I not say to an insurance adjuster about water damage?
Stick to the facts you know: what you saw, when you saw it and what you did. Do not guess at the cause or say how long a leak has been going on unless you know. Keep your photos, receipts and notes, and ask for anything you do not understand in writing.
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How long does it take for mold to grow after water damage?
Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials. The EPA says that if a flooded home cannot be dried within that window, you should assume mold is growing. Remove wet materials and start drying as soon as it is safe.
Sources and Standards
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Safety guidelines: reentering your flooded home.
- US EPA, Homeowner's and renter's guide to mold cleanup after disasters.
- US EPA, A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home.
- Fixr, Water damage restoration cost, updated January 31, 2025.
- Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, ANSI/IICRC S500, Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration.
- Nationwide, Does homeowners insurance cover foundation repair? (sudden and accidental damage).
- FEMA, What does flood insurance cover in a basement?, January 2022.