Water damage can happen in an instant, a pipe bursts while you're at work, a washing machine hose fails overnight, or a heavy Pacific Northwest rainstorm finds a weak spot in your roof. What you do in the first few hours after discovering water damage can have a major impact on your recovery costs, timeline, and whether your insurance claim is successful.
Here are five common mistakes Tacoma homeowners make after water damage, and what to do instead.
Mistake #1: Waiting to Call for Help
It's tempting to try to handle water damage yourself, especially if it seems minor. But water moves fast, and what looks like a small wet spot on the surface can represent much larger saturation in the subfloor, wall cavities, and insulation beneath. Every hour of delay allows water to spread further and increases the likelihood of mold growth.
The right move: Call a professional water damage restoration company as soon as you discover the loss. ServiceMaster of Tacoma responds 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Mistake #2: Not Documenting the Damage
Before touching anything, take photos and video of all affected areas. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim. Many homeowners begin cleaning up immediately and then struggle to prove the extent of the original damage to their insurer.
The right move: Photograph everything before any cleanup begins, then call your insurance company to report the loss and ask about next steps before starting any major work.
Mistake #3: Using Household Fans and Thinking the Job Is Done
Running a few box fans might seem like a reasonable way to dry things out, but standard household fans move surface-level air and can't extract moisture that has penetrated into structural materials. Worse, they can spread moisture to unaffected areas.
The right move: Professional water restoration requires industrial air movers, dehumidifiers, and moisture monitoring to ensure structural materials dry completely. Incomplete drying leads directly to mold growth, usually within 48 to 72 hours.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Potential Mold Risk
Mold can begin growing in as little as 24 to 48 hours in wet conditions. Many homeowners don't consider mold until they see visible growth weeks later, by which point it has often spread significantly. Even if water damage looks minor on the surface, the conditions for mold growth may already exist inside walls, beneath flooring, and in other hidden areas.
The right move: Have a professional assess moisture levels using thermal imaging and moisture meters to identify all wet areas, not just the ones visible to the naked eye.
Mistake #5: Discarding Items Too Quickly, or Not Quickly Enough
Homeowners often make one of two errors: throwing away items that could have been restored (saving money on replacement) or keeping water-damaged items that are beyond saving and that create ongoing mold and odor problems.
The right move: Let a professional assess your belongings. ServiceMaster of Tacoma offers content restoration services that can recover many items you might assume are ruined, while also helping you identify what truly needs to go.
Ready to Respond the Right Way?
ServiceMaster of Tacoma has been helping Tacoma-area homeowners recover from water damage since 1979. Our IICRC-certified technicians are available 24/7 at (253) 884-8586. Don't wait, call us at the first sign of water damage.
