A water loss can happen fast. A burst pipe, leaking appliance, roof leak, or storm-related water intrusion can quickly cause major damage to your home or business.
Knowing what to do after a water loss — and doing things in the right order — can help limit damage, prevent delays, and ensure your water damage insurance claim starts the right way.
This guide is designed to walk you through what to do before the insurance adjuster steps in. While it is written primarily for residential water losses, many of these same steps apply to commercial properties as well.
Your first priority after any water damage emergency is safety.
Make sure everyone is safe.
Avoid standing water if electrical outlets or wiring may be affected.
Shut off the main water supply if a pipe has burst.
Turn off appliances that may be leaking.
Keep children and pets away from affected areas.
Stopping the source of the water quickly helps prevent further damage and plays an important role in how your water damage insurance claim is handled.
Before filing a claim online or calling the insurance company directly, contact your insurance agent.
Your agent can help you:
Determine whether your water damage may be covered by insurance
Review deductibles and policy limits
Understand next steps in the claims process
Avoid mistakes that could delay or complicate the claim
This is where having a good insurance agent truly matters. Anyone can sell a policy. Guidance during a loss is what makes the difference.
Proper documentation is critical when dealing with water damage and insurance.
Take photos and videos of all affected areas
Capture ceilings, walls, floors, cabinets, furniture, and personal belongings
Take both wide-angle photos and close-ups
Record the date and time of the loss
You cannot over-document when preparing for a water damage insurance claim.
Most insurance policies require homeowners to take steps to prevent additional damage, often called mitigation.
You may:
Place buckets under active leaks
Use fans or dehumidifiers if safe
Move undamaged belongings to dry areas
Remove small amounts of standing water
You should avoid:
Tearing out drywall
Removing flooring
Starting permanent repairs
Throwing away damaged items before documentation
Permanent repairs usually come later.
Professional water damage restoration services are often necessary to properly dry and protect your home.
Certified restoration companies can:
Extract standing water
Set commercial drying equipment
Monitor moisture levels
Provide documentation used by insurance companies
Working with restoration companies familiar with insurance water damage claims helps the process move more smoothly.
Begin tracking expenses related to the loss right away.
Save receipts for:
Cleanup materials
Temporary lodging
Meals if your kitchen cannot be used
Emergency supplies
Some of these costs may qualify as additional living expenses under your homeowners insurance policy.
Until your water damage insurance claim is officially reviewed:
Do not replace flooring
Do not patch drywall
Do not repaint or rebuild
Do not dispose of damaged materials without documentation
Temporary mitigation is acceptable. Permanent repairs usually begin after inspection.
At this point, you have completed the pre-claim responsibilities.
You have:
Stopped the water damage
Documented the loss
Prevented further damage
Spoken with your insurance agent
Contacted a professional restoration company
Your claim is now properly positioned to move forward.
Once the claim is officially filed, the insurance adjuster will:
Inspect the water damage
Review photos and documentation
Determine coverage under your policy
Explain next steps for repairs and settlement
From this point forward, the insurance adjuster and your insurance agent work together to guide the remainder of the water damage insurance claim process.
Most problems with water damage insurance claims occur before the adjuster ever arrives.
Knowing what to do after a water loss — and having the right guidance early — helps prevent delays, disputes, and unnecessary stress.
This guide is designed to help homeowners and business owners start their water damage insurance claim the right way, with clarity, documentation, and the right professionals involved from the beginning.