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Water damage restoration

From burst pipes to storm leaks, drying within 24 to 48 hours is what keeps a water problem from becoming a mold problem. Call to connect with an independent local provider.

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Updated November 6, 2026. Sources below.

Water leaking from a supply line under a kitchen sink

What to do right now

  1. Electricity first. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water. If you would have to walk through water to reach the main breaker, call an electrician instead[1][2]. After a flood, have an electrician check the system before the power goes back on[2].
  2. Stop the source if you can do it safely: shut the main water valve for a plumbing leak.
  3. Photograph and video everything before it is moved, and keep receipts for emergency repairs. Florida's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights tells homeowners to do exactly this[3].
  4. Report the claim promptly. Florida's deadline is 1 year from the date of loss for a new claim[4]. Citizens policyholders should call Citizens before hiring a water-removal company[5].
  5. Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. That is the window in which the EPA says mold will not grow in most cases[6]. Porous items soaked by flood water, such as rugs and mattresses, generally need to be thrown away[7].
Homeowner photographing water-damaged wood flooring for an insurance claim
Photograph the damage before anything is moved.

How professional restoration works

  1. Inspection: the source is found and stopped, and moisture meters map how far the water spread, including inside walls and under floors.
  2. Classifying the water: Category 1 is from a sanitary source like a supply line[8]; Category 2 includes washer or dishwasher discharge[8]; Category 3 is grossly contaminated, such as sewage or rising flood water[9]. Categories 2 and 3 need contamination controls before drying[9].
  3. Water removal and drying: standing water is extracted and dehumidifiers and air movers run until materials are dry. The EPA's target is drying within 24 to 48 hours[6].
  4. Removing what cannot be saved: materials that soak up a lot of water and cannot be cleaned and dried should be thrown away[10].
  5. Repairs: drywall, insulation, baseboards and flooring are replaced.
Moisture meter checking water-stained drywall
Moisture readings show how far water spread inside walls.
Air movers and a dehumidifier drying a room with lower drywall removed
Drying equipment typically runs for several days.
Hurricane rain is not automatically Category 3. A 2026 IICRC position statement says storm water entering a home is Category 3 only if inspection finds it grossly contaminated[9].

Cost

Published cost guideNational figures
HomeGuide$2,000 to $6,000 typical, range $150 to $100,000; water removal and drying $4 to $12 per sq ft[11]
HomeAdvisor$1,385 to $6,381 typical; average $3,874[12]
Bob Vila (Angi/HomeAdvisor data)$1,305 to $5,707 typical; average $3,455[13]

Water damage restoration cost in detail

Insurance

  • Report the claim within 1 year. Florida bars a new or reopened homeowners claim not reported within 1 year of the date of loss; a supplemental claim has 18 months[4]. For hurricanes, the date of loss is the landfall date[4].
  • Flood is separate. FEMA's flood program states that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage[14]. A new NFIP policy generally takes effect after a 30-day wait, so it cannot be bought once a storm is coming[15].
  • You cannot sign over your benefits. For Florida policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, assigning post-loss benefits to a contractor (an AOB) is void[16]. Read any contractor paperwork before signing.
  • Insurer deadlines. Under the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights the insurer must acknowledge your claim within 7 days and generally pay or deny within 60 days[3]. Document and make emergency repairs to stop further damage and keep receipts[3].
  • Citizens policyholders face a $10,000 cap on non-weather water losses unless repairs go through Citizens' Managed Repair network[5]. More on Florida water damage claims.

Sources

Every figure on this page links to its source. Statutes are from the 2026 Florida Statutes. FEMA and NOAA figures were downloaded on 6 November 2026.

  1. Hurricanes. Ready.gov (FEMA). https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  2. Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  3. Section 627.7142, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.7142 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  4. Section 627.70132, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.70132 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  5. Is there a $10,000 limit of coverage if I do not participate in the Managed Repair Contractor Network Program? (Citizens FAQ, answer ID 3933). Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. https://securesupport.citizensfla.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3933/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  6. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  7. Safety Guidelines: Returning Home After a Natural Disaster. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/safety/returning-home-after-natural-disaster.html Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  8. Air Duct Cleaning Related to Fire and Water Restoration Projects (PDF). NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association), slide deck quoting ANSI/IICRC S500. https://nadca.com/sites/nadca/files/docs/2022/cleaning_related_to_fire_and_water_restoration_projects.pdf Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  9. ANSI/IICRC S500 Consensus Body Position Statement: Category of Water Damage and Weather-related Events (quotes the 5th Edition ANSI/IICRC S500, 2021). IICRC (ANSI/IICRC S500 Consensus Body). https://iicrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Weather-Related-Position-Statement_2026.pdf Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  10. Flood Cleanup to Protect Indoor Air and Your Health. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/flood-cleanup-protect-indoor-air-and-your-health Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  11. Water damage restoration cost. HomeGuide. https://homeguide.com/costs/water-damage-restoration-cost Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  12. How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?. HomeAdvisor. https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/disaster-recovery/repair-water-damage/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  13. How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/water-damage-restoration-cost/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  14. FloodSmart.gov home page. FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart.gov). https://www.floodsmart.gov/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  15. Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart.gov). https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
  16. Section 627.7152, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.7152 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
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