A burst pipe can put hundreds of gallons of water into your home in a short time. What you do in the first hour makes a big difference in how much you lose. Here’s the checklist we give South Florida homeowners.
The First-Hour Checklist
- Shut off the water. Use the shutoff valve at the fixture if you can reach it, or the main valve, usually near the street, by the water heater, or where the line enters the house. In a condo, there’s often a shutoff in the unit or the building’s maintenance team can shut it off.
- Stay safe around electricity. Don’t walk through water near outlets, power strips, or appliances. Turn off power to the affected area at the breaker if you can reach it safely.
- Take photos and video of the water, the pipe, and the damage before moving anything. Your insurance company will want them.
- Move valuables, electronics, rugs, and furniture out of the water.
- Call a water damage restoration company. Professional extraction and drying should start as soon as possible.
- Report it to your insurer promptly, and in a condo, notify building management.
What Not to Do
- Don’t use a regular household vacuum on water.
- Don’t assume it’s dry because the surface feels dry. Water travels into walls, under floors, and into cabinets.
- Don’t wait to see if it dries on its own. In South Florida humidity, mold can start within 24 to 48 hours.
What Happens Next
A restoration team extracts standing water, maps moisture with moisture meters and an infrared (thermal) camera, sets up commercial drying equipment, checks moisture daily, and removes materials that can’t be saved. You get documentation for your insurance claim.
24/7 Help in South Florida
FL Cleanup is family-owned, IICRC certified, and available 24/7 across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Call 877-224-2532. See water damage restoration in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
