A small spill of clean water on a hard floor, caught right away, you can usually handle with towels and fans. Call a water damage company if water soaked into carpet, drywall or ceilings, came from sewage or outside, spread to more than one room, or has been wet more than a day.
You can probably handle it if
- It's clean water, like a sink or supply line
- It's on tile, vinyl or sealed concrete
- You caught it right away
- Nothing soaked in: no wet carpet pad, drywall or cabinets
Call a water damage company if
- Carpet, pad, drywall or a ceiling got wet. Water hides in those, and fans in the room won't reach it.
- It's sewage, toilet water or floodwater. That needs cleaning, not just drying.
- It spread to more than one room or under the floor.
- It's been wet more than 24 hours or smells musty.
- A ceiling is sagging or water is near electrical.
What the pros do that fans can't
They measure moisture in walls and floors to find how far it went, pull out what can't be saved, and run commercial dehumidifiers and air movers until readings are back to normal. They also document the drying, which helps your insurance claim. See what a water damage company does.
Cost and insurance
Get a rough idea with the cost estimator. If it's a covered loss, drying is usually part of the claim, and you can pick your own company. See choosing your own company.
Common questions
How fast should drying start?
Within 24 to 48 hours. That's the window that keeps mold from starting.
Do I have to use the company my insurer recommends?
Usually not. You can generally choose your own. Check your policy and tell your insurer who you hired.
Will a dehumidifier from the hardware store work?
For a small area, it helps. A soaked room usually needs several commercial units plus air movers and moisture checks.