I Came Home to a Flood. What Do I Do?
You walk through the door after being away and immediately know something is wrong.
Water is covering the floor. A supply line failed. The water heater leaked. An RO system broke. Maybe the damage has been sitting unnoticed for hours or even days.
What you do next matters.
Arizona Total Home Restoration helps homeowners throughout the Phoenix Metro respond to water damage, identify how far the water traveled, dry the property properly, document the loss, and restore damaged areas.
Need help now? Call ATH Restoration 24/7 at (480) 207-7011.
What Should I Do First If I Come Home to a Flooded House?
If you can safely stop the source of the water, do so.
Shut off the affected fixture or your home’s main water supply if you know how and can reach it safely.
Do not enter standing water if there may be an electrical hazard, contaminated water, structural damage, or another unsafe condition.
Once the immediate source is controlled, contact a professional restoration company as soon as possible.
Should I Start Cleaning Up the Water Myself?
You can take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage if it is safe, but a significant water loss should be professionally evaluated.
Water rarely stays where you can see it. It can travel beneath flooring, behind baseboards, into drywall, cabinets, insulation, and other building materials.
If the leak occurred while you were away, determining how long the materials have been wet becomes especially important.
Should I Take Pictures Before Anything Is Moved?
Yes. Document the property before cleanup begins whenever it is safe to do so.
Take photos and video of:
- Standing water
- The apparent source of the leak
- Damaged flooring and walls
- Wet cabinets and furniture
- Damaged personal belongings
- Any visible staining or deterioration
ATH also documents affected areas as part of the restoration process.
Should I Call My Insurance Company or a Restoration Company First?
You do not need to wait for an insurance adjuster before getting help with an active water loss.
Stopping additional damage and beginning proper mitigation can be time-sensitive.
ATH can inspect the property, document the loss, begin necessary mitigation, and help provide the documentation needed during the insurance claim process.
Coverage varies by policy and cause of loss, so your insurance carrier ultimately determines what your policy covers.
What If the Water Has Been Sitting for Several Days?
The longer water remains in a building, the greater the possibility that it has traveled into materials you cannot see.
A house that flooded while you were away may require more than removing visible standing water.
ATH can evaluate moisture in flooring, walls, cabinets, and other affected materials to determine the extent of the damage and develop an appropriate drying and restoration plan.
Depending on the conditions and how long the property was wet, additional environmental evaluation may also be appropriate.
Common Causes of Flooding While You're Away
Some of the most damaging residential water losses begin with ordinary household systems.
Common causes include:
- Reverse osmosis system failures
- Broken toilet or sink supply lines
- Water heater failures
- Washing machine supply lines
- Plumbing leaks
- Appliance failures
- Air-conditioning or condensate problems
- Roof leaks and storm-related water intrusion
A relatively small failure can cause extensive damage when nobody is home to discover it.
I Just Returned to Arizona and Found Water Damage
Seasonal residents and second-home owners face a particular problem with water damage: a leak can continue unnoticed for an extended period.
By the time you return, the visible water may only be part of the problem.
Moisture may have traveled beneath flooring, into walls, behind cabinets, or into adjoining rooms.
ATH Restoration can inspect the affected areas, identify moisture migration, begin drying and mitigation, and determine what will be required to restore the property.
What If I'm Preparing the Home for Sale?
Discovering water damage shortly before listing or closing on a property can create additional pressure.
The priority is still the same: identify the source, determine the extent of the damage, properly dry the property, document the work, and complete any necessary repairs.
ATH can manage the process from initial water mitigation through reconstruction, helping reduce the number of contractors and handoffs involved in getting the property restored.
What Happens When ATH Arrives?
Every water loss is different, but the restoration process may include:
1. Inspect the Damage
We evaluate the affected areas and identify the apparent source and extent of the water intrusion.
2. Identify Hidden Moisture
Moisture can travel well beyond the visibly wet area. We evaluate affected materials to understand where the water has migrated.
3. Extract Standing Water
When standing water is present, extraction begins as appropriate to the conditions of the property.
4. Dry the Structure
Professional drying equipment is used to remove moisture from affected building materials and help prevent additional damage.
5. Document the Loss
We document affected areas and restoration work to help create a clear record of the loss.
6. Address Additional Restoration Needs
Depending on the conditions, the project may also involve environmental testing, mold remediation, contents packout, removal of damaged materials, or other specialized services
7. Reconstruct the Property
If flooring, drywall, cabinetry, or other building materials must be removed, ATH can also handle the reconstruction.
You don’t have to find another contractor after the property is dry.
One Company From Water Extraction Through Reconstruction
A major water loss can quickly involve mitigation crews, environmental testing, insurance representatives, contents handling, demolition, and reconstruction.
ATH Restoration can coordinate the project from the initial water-damage response through final repairs.
That means fewer handoffs, clearer communication, and one company responsible for helping move the property toward normal again.
Came Home to Water Damage? Don’t Wait to Find Out How Far It Spread.
If you’ve returned home to standing water, wet flooring, damaged walls, or signs of a leak that occurred while you were away, ATH Restoration can help determine what happened and what needs to happen next.