How long does water damage restoration take?

Once the water is found, the next question is usually how long it will take to get the house back to normal. The work happens in phases, and each phase has its own clock. Here is what published sources say about each one, and what tends to make a job run longer.

What has to happen in the first 48 hours?

Speed matters most at the start. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and NerdWallet notes that mold can form in as little as a day or two.

The first steps are to make the space safe, stop the water and start removing it:

• Safety first. If water could be touching outlets, cords or appliances and the power may be on, stay out of it. The CDC says to shut off the main power only from a dry location and to call an electrician if you would have to step into water to reach it. Your electric utility can also help. Call 911 for any emergency.
• Stop the source. For a burst pipe, Nationwide says shutting off the main water valve stops the flow.
• Document before cleanup. The Illinois Department of Insurance says to photograph damage before you begin cleanup, if it is safe, and to contact your agent right away.

How long does drying usually take?

Published guides land in a similar range:

• HomeAdvisor says a water-damaged home can take around five days to dry, depending on the damage, with water extraction taking at least three days.
• Fixr says extraction and drying take at least three days.
• Bob Vila says that in general it takes 72 hours for areas affected by water damage to dry completely.
• Forbes Home says more extensive damage can take up to five days to dry completely.

Drying has to be complete, not just close. NDSU Extension says walls that have gotten wet must be completely dried out before they can be rebuilt, and that fans need to be paired with dehumidification or ventilation to actually pull moisture out of the air. The industry standard for this work is the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, now in its fifth edition from 2021, which covers drying procedures and the science of moisture in the air (IICRC). Our water damage restoration page explains how we approach drying out your home.

What makes a job take longer?

Published guidance points to four common factors.

Contaminated water. HomeAdvisor describes black water as water that has come into contact with sewage. The American Red Cross says to throw out items that absorbed water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected, and the EPA says to call a professional when damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water. Every porous item that has to come out is something that has to be replaced later.

How far the water spread. HomeAdvisor describes four classes of water damage:

• Class 1: only a small part of a single room, with very little carpet affected.
• Class 2: an entire room, including walls up to at least 12 inches.
• Class 3: nearly every part of one or more rooms, such as ceilings, walls, subflooring and insulation.
• Class 4: water that permeates structural materials like stone, brick and hardwood.

The S500 standard, as summarized by Bowling Green State University, notes that this last class can require special drying methods or longer drying times. That is worth knowing in a city with more than 80,000 bungalows, a style built of brick with a full basement (WBEZ).

Deep water in a basement. When a basement holds deep water and the soil outside is saturated, the Red Cross says to pump it out gradually, about one-third of the water per day, to avoid structural damage.

Mold that already started. If water sat long enough for mold to grow, cleanup comes before rebuilding, and the EPA says not to run your heating and cooling system if you know or suspect it is contaminated with mold.

How long do repairs take after drying?

Once everything is dry, rebuilding can start. HomeAdvisor says replacing drywall, plumbing fixtures and electrical components can take a few days, and that full restoration can take weeks or even months. Fixr says restoration can take several more weeks to months, depending on the scope. Our reconstruction page covers that rebuilding phase.

How does the insurance claim affect the timeline?

The claim runs alongside the work, and some steps wait on it. NerdWallet says temporary fixes are fine, but you should not schedule major work until your insurer has reviewed the damage.

Illinois rules set some outside limits. Insurers must respond to your communications within a maximum of 15 working days, and when liability is reasonably clear they must make a good faith effort to communicate with you within 21 working days after you report the loss (50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.40). Once an insurer affirms liability, it must offer payment within 30 days if the amount is determined and not in dispute (50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.50). For flood policies, FEMA’s claims checklist says an adjuster should reach out within 48 hours of your report.

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Check your own policy and talk to your agent or adjuster about your situation. Our insurance claims page explains how we keep the work and the claim moving together.

How can I keep the timeline short?

1. Stop the water at the source as soon as it is safe.
2. Take photos and video before anything gets moved.
3. Call your insurer the same day.
4. Move dry belongings out of the wet area, and dry soft items like rugs and upholstered furniture in open air when possible, as the Red Cross suggests.
5. Open windows if the weather allows, point fans outward, and run dehumidifiers, as the CDC recommends.
6. Keep the heating and cooling system off if you suspect mold near it.

When to call a restoration company

Drying should start within 24 to 48 hours, so it helps to call early. When you call us:

1. A person answers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
2. We ask what happened, where the water came from and how long it has been sitting.
3. We send a crew to remove the water and start drying out your home.
4. We document everything for your insurance, so the claim can move while the work does.

When you are ready, you can contact us here.