Water Damage In Clermont Or Winter Garden? Who To Call First And What To Do InThe First Hour
Discovering water damage is jarring. A supply line bursts, a roof leak trails down a wall, or a storm pushes water under a door. In the first hour, what you do and who you call can prevent mold, reduce structural damage,and protect your claim. This guide gives you a clear, local plan for Lake and Orange County homes and businesses, including Clermont, Winter Garden, and nearby communities.
First, make the scene safe
Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings, bowing floors, or visible electrical hazards.
If water is near outlets, the breaker panel, or appliances, do not step in.
If you smell gas or hear arcing, leave the building and call your utility provider or 911.
Safety comes first. If the area is safe to access, move to the next steps.
Shut off water and electricity when it is safe to do so
Close the main water valve to stop active leaks. Common locations include the perimeter of the house, a curbside shutoff box, garage, or where the main line enters the structure. In condos or commercialbuildings, notify building management or maintenance.
If water has reached outlets or appliances, shut off power at the main breaker before touching switches or equipment. Never stand in water while operating breakers.
Stopping the source quickly limits additional loss and shortens drying time.
Who to call first for water damage
Call a 24/7 water mitigation and restoration company first. Mitigation starts immediately, and every minute matters. A local team can arrive day or night, extract standing water, set containment, begin structural drying, anddocument conditions for your insurer. This protects your property and your claim.
ServiceMaster Restoration by Mather is your first call for Clermont and Winter Garden. We operate 24/7, dispatch locally, and begin work on arrival. You can expect rapid assessment, moisture mapping, water extraction,and targeted drying with ongoing monitoring.
Once mitigation is underway, call your insurer to open a claim and receive a claim number. If a broken pipe or appliance caused the loss, call a licensed plumber after mitigation begins to repair the source.
Order of calls:
1.
ServiceMaster Restoration by Mather for immediate mitigation.
2.
Your insurance company to report the loss.
3.
A plumber or roofer for permanent repairs, coordinated with your restoration team.
When to call a water restoration company
Call immediately, even for small leaks or damp walls. In our climate, mold growth can begin within 24 to 48 hours. Quick extraction and dehumidification can turn a major teardown into a controlled, clean dry. If the sourceis unknown, our technicians use meters and thermal cameras to locate hidden moisture and reduce guesswork.
If you are in Clermont or Winter Garden, our teams offer water damage restoration clermont and water damage restoration winter garden services with 24/7 dispatch, moisture monitoring, and documentation for claims.
What qualifies as water damage
Water damage includes any unwanted water that affects building materials or contents. Common events include:
Burst or leaking pipes; appliance failures from water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, or refrigerator lines.
Roof, window, or exterior envelope leaks; wind driven rain intrusion.
Toilet overflows, sewage backups, or floodwater intrusion.
Firefighting water that saturates floors, walls, and contents.
Even a small, repeated drip can damage drywall, swell trim, delaminate flooring, and support mold growth behind finishes.
What not to do after water damage
Do not enter rooms with electrical involvement until power is safely off.
Do not use household vacuums on water.
Do not lift tacked down carpet; you can damage backing and release odors.
Do not open a swollen, sagging ceiling; it can collapse unexpectedly.
Do not apply fans or heat without a plan; you may drive moisture into wall cavities or spread contamination.
Do not discard damaged items before photographing and listing them for your claim, unless they present an immediate safety hazard.
For sewage or suspected contaminated water, avoid contact and wait for professional help. Category 3 water requires controlled removal and disinfection.
The first hour checklist
Make the area safe and stop the source if possible.
Call ServiceMaster Restoration by Mather at (352) 600-0491. We are ready 24/7 for Clermont, Winter Garden, and surrounding areas.
Take clear photos and short videos of each affected room, walls, ceilings, floors, and contents. Include close ups of baseboards, door frames, under-sink areas, and the suspected source.
Move small valuables, electronics, and documents to a dry space if safe to do so.
Keep a simple log: time discovered, actions taken, who you called, and any visible changes.
Our team will arrive ready to extract water, measure moisture in walls and flooring, set containment, and start structural drying.
What to expect from our local workflow
Rapid arrival and safety assessment. We confirm hazards, identify the source area, and stabilize the scene.
Moisture mapping. Using meters and thermal imaging, we locate wet materials in walls, floors, cabinets, and ceilings, including hidden pockets under tile or behind baseboards.
Water extraction. We remove standing water with pumps and truckmounted or portable extractors.
Structural drying. High velocity air movers and commercial dehumidifiers are placed strategically and adjusted daily. We provide 24/7 structural drying in south clermont and across our service area, with dailymoisture readings that guide equipment changes.
Antimicrobial application when appropriate. This helps reduce microbial growth on cleaned, salvageable surfaces.
Documentation for insurance. We photograph conditions, record measurements, and provide scope and estimates. We coordinate with your adjuster and, when needed, licensed contractors for repairs.
If conditions indicate microbial growth, we will discuss mold remediation options and next steps. For specialized needs, we provide mold remediation in clermont with containment, filtration, and clearance guidance.
How long to dry out walls after water damage
Dry times vary with water volume, materials, and indoor conditions. With professional extraction and balanced drying, most drywall and framing in typical residential losses reach target moisture in 3 to 5 days. Plaster,hardwood, or multilayer assemblies can take longer. We verify progress with daily meter readings rather than guessing. If materials do not trend down as expected, we adjust equipment, open assemblies for air flow, orrecommend targeted removal to prevent mold.
When plumbing or roofing repairs happen
Permanent repairs come after mitigation begins. Once we stabilize and document the site, a plumber fixes the failed supply or drain line, or a roofer patches the roof. This sequence protects evidence for your claim,minimizes additional moisture, and helps avoid repeated wetting.
Local support, day or night
ServiceMaster Restoration by Mather is locally owned and backed by the ServiceMaster Restore network. We serve Lake and Orange counties with 24/7 emergency response, careful documentation, and coordinatedrepairs. Whether you need clermont fast water damage cleanup after a burst pipe or help navigating an insurance claim, we are here to guide you from the first call through final handoff.
Summary
In the first hour, protect your safety, stop the source, call a 24/7 restoration team, and document the damage. Call ServiceMaster Restoration by Mather first, then your insurer, then the plumber or roofer. Fast mitigationlimits mold and structural issues, and thorough documentation supports your claim. If you are facing an active or recent loss in Clermont or Winter Garden, call (352) 600-0491 now. Our team will arrive ready to extract, dry,document, and coordinate repairs so you can move from emergency to recovery with confidence.
