The first 24 hours after a plumbing emergency in Tampa

Hour 0-1: Stop the water, call for help

If you haven't already, shut off the water. Main valve, fixture valve, whatever it takes. (Not sure how? See our guide on shutting off your water main.) Then call an emergency plumber. In Tampa, call (813) 219-8764 for 24/7 response.

While you wait for the plumber, start damage control. Move furniture and valuables out of standing water. Unplug electronics in affected rooms. If water is near your electrical panel or pooling around outlets, do not walk through it. Flip the main breaker from a dry location if you can safely reach it.

Hour 1-3: Emergency repair and initial documentation

The plumber arrives, diagnoses the problem, and makes the repair (or at least a temporary fix to get your water back on safely). While they work, start documenting everything. Photos and video of the damage, the source of the failure, and the extent of the water.

Ask the plumber for a written description of what failed and why. This goes into your insurance claim. A good plumber will note the pipe material, the type of failure (burst, corrosion, joint separation), and whether the failure was sudden or may have been developing over time. That distinction matters for insurance.

Once the repair is done, the plumber should pressure-test the system and confirm no other leaks exist. Get their invoice before they leave if possible, or confirm it will be emailed. You'll need it for the insurance claim.

Hour 3-6: Water extraction and damage assessment

Get the standing water out. A wet/dry vacuum handles small amounts. For a large area, you may need to call a water damage restoration company. In Tampa, several restoration companies offer 24/7 emergency response.

The faster you remove standing water, the less damage it causes. Water sitting on hardwood floors for 4-6 hours can cause permanent warping. Drywall absorbs water upward by capillary action, and every hour it sits wet means more material you'll need to cut out and replace.

If the water came from a sewage backup (a "Category 3" or "black water" event), the contamination rules are different. Anything porous that was soaked with sewage, including carpet, padding, drywall below the water line, and upholstered furniture, typically needs to be removed and discarded. Don't try to save sewage-contaminated materials.

Hour 6-12: Start drying, file the insurance claim

Set up fans and a dehumidifier. Air movement is more important than heat for drying. Point fans at wet surfaces and keep the dehumidifier running in the most affected area. If it's not raining, open windows. Cross-ventilation helps.

Call your insurance company. File the claim and get a claim number. See our full guide on filing an insurance claim after water damage for the step-by-step. The short version: report it the same day, document everything, and keep a log of every call.

If you're dealing with a large affected area (multiple rooms, significant floor damage, or ceiling/wall saturation), this is when to call a restoration company. They'll bring commercial-grade drying equipment: air movers, industrial dehumidifiers, and moisture monitoring equipment. They'll also do moisture readings to establish a baseline.

Hour 12-24: Monitor moisture, protect against mold

Mold can start growing on wet surfaces in as little as 24-48 hours in Tampa's warm, humid climate. This is the window to prevent it.

Keep fans and dehumidifiers running. Don't turn them off overnight. Monitor the moisture level of walls and floors if you have a moisture meter (available at hardware stores for about $25, worth owning in Tampa). Drywall should read below 15% moisture content. If it's higher after 12-24 hours of drying, the material may need to be cut out.

Remove wet carpet padding if the carpet was soaked. Carpet can sometimes be saved if it's dried within 24-48 hours, but the padding underneath almost never survives. Pull it up, discard it, and let the subfloor dry before new padding goes down.

Check behind baseboards and inside wall cavities if possible. Water runs behind walls and pools in places you can't see. If you suspect hidden moisture, a restoration company with thermal imaging cameras can map it without opening walls.

After 24 hours: what comes next

Within the first few days, your insurance adjuster will schedule an inspection. Have your documentation ready: photos, video, plumber's invoice, restoration company estimate, and a list of damaged personal property.

Don't rush into permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected. Temporary protection (tarps, fans, dehumidifiers) is expected and covered. Ripping out damaged drywall and installing new before the adjuster sees it can create disputes about the claim amount.

The full restoration process, from drying to rebuild, typically takes 2-6 weeks depending on the extent of the damage. For major events (slab leak that ran for days, sewer backup, water heater flood), it can take longer. Start planning for the disruption: if flooring needs replacement, you may need to relocate furniture or find temporary accommodations.