Water Damage Guides · Drying & Mold

When Water Damage Needs a Professional, Not DIY

There is a lot a homeowner can do around the house, and water damage is the kind of problem that tempts people to do it themselves. The water is there, the mop is there, and the job looks like a cleaning job. But water damage is not a cleaning job, and the line between a problem a homeowner can deal with and a problem that needs a professional is not always where people expect it to be. Knowing where that line sits, before the water has been dealt with, saves time, saves money, and keeps people safe.

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This guide explains, in general terms, when water damage needs a professional rather than a do-it-yourself approach: sewage, floodwater and large losses, burst pipes and active leaks, and the situations where the hidden part of the problem is the larger part. No DIY sewage or floodwater advice is given anywhere in this guide. The water damage restoration page outlines the professional process, and the same line applies in New Orleans and in Baton Rouge.

Sewage, floodwater and large losses

Sewage, floodwater and large losses are professional-only, without exception. Sewage and floodwater are treated as Category 3 black water, which is grossly contaminated, and the cleanup for contaminated water needs equipment and precautions that a homeowner does not have. A large loss, where water has reached several rooms, soaked wall cavities and subflooring, or been present for a while, is also professional work, because the hidden part of the problem is usually the larger part, and a homeowner who deals with the visible water has not dealt with the water that has travelled out of sight.

The practical sign that a loss is large is often the simplest one: if the water has reached more than one room, if it has soaked into walls or under flooring, or if the source is not obvious, the job is beyond a household clean. The sewage cleanup page explains the professional-only handling of contaminated water, and the flood damage cleanup page covers flood cleanup in general terms. In each case, the right step is to avoid contact, keep everyone away from the affected area, and call a professional.

Burst pipes and active leaks

Burst pipes and active leaks are also jobs for a professional, because the first task is to stop the water, and the second is to deal with what the water has already soaked. A burst pipe can release a large amount of water in a short time, and the water can travel inside walls, under floors and into the rooms below before it is noticed. Shutting the water off, if it is safe to do so from a dry place, is the one step a homeowner should take, and after that the job is a professional one, because the drying and repair need an inspection of where the water went.

An active leak that has been running for a while is a similar case, because the water has had time to soak into the structure, and the damp may have spread well beyond the visible stain. A leak that appears small on the surface can hide a wall cavity that is thoroughly wet, and a ceiling stain can sit over a roof or plumbing problem that is still letting water in. The burst pipe water damage repair page covers the burst pipe side of the work, and the emergency water removal page covers the removal stage.

When Water Damage Needs a Professional, Not DIY — Louisiana water damage guide

The hidden part of the problem

The hidden part of a water loss is often the larger part, and it is the part that separates a professional job from a household clean. Water migrates into wall cavities, under flooring, behind cabinets and into the rooms below, and it stays there long after the visible surfaces look dry. A homeowner who mops the floor and opens a window has dealt with the surface, and the moisture inside the structure remains, where it can allow mold to grow and weaken materials over time. That is why a professional inspection looks beyond the visible area, using moisture readings taken in general terms to map where the water went.

The drying that follows is also professional work, because it deals with moisture inside the structure rather than on the surface. Air movement and dehumidification, in general terms, are used to pull moisture out of walls, floors and framing, and the structural drying and dehumidification page explains that work. Drying is finished when the operator confirms the materials have reached an acceptable moisture level, rather than when the room looks dry, because a dry surface does not mean a dry structure.

What a homeowner can safely do

There are things a homeowner can safely do after water damage, and they are worth knowing, because they help the professional job go faster. Shutting the water off, if it is safe to do so from a dry place, is the first. Moving belongings away from the water, where that can be done safely and without entering flooded areas, is the second. Noting when the water started, where it came from, and which rooms were affected, and taking photographs from a safe place, is the third, and that record is useful for the inspection and for insurance purposes in general terms.

What a homeowner should not do is equally clear: do not enter a flooded building, do not handle electrics in standing water, do not clean up sewage or floodwater yourself, and do not use a household vacuum on standing water. Do not tear out drywall or flooring yourself, and do not paint over a damp wall. Those are the steps that put people at risk or make the problem worse, and they are the steps that a professional visit is meant to replace. Homes in Lafayette and Shreveport follow the same advice.

Making the call

Making the call to a professional is the step that turns a water loss into a planned job, and it is worth making it promptly rather than waiting to see whether the problem gets worse. When you call, describe what happened as plainly as you can: when the water event occurred, where the water came from, which rooms were affected, and whether the water is still coming in. Say whether the water came from a flood or a sewage backup, because that changes the cleanup entirely, and say whether anyone has come into contact with the water.

The visit that follows starts with an inspection, then water removal, then drying, then cleaning and repair, in general terms, and the plan is confirmed before work begins. The same steps apply in Lake Charles and across Louisiana, and the mold removal and remediation page covers the mold side of the work that can follow a water loss.

Key Takeaways

Sewage, floodwater and large losses are professional-only, without exception.
Burst pipes and active leaks are also jobs for a professional, because the first task is to stop the water, and the second is to deal with what the water has already soaked.
The hidden part of a water loss is often the larger part, and it is the part that separates a professional job from a household clean.
There are things a homeowner can safely do after water damage, and they are worth knowing, because they help the professional job go faster.
Making the call to a professional is the step that turns a water loss into a planned job, and it is worth making it promptly rather than waiting to see whether the problem gets worse.

Questions About When Water Damage Needs a Professional, Not DIY

When does water damage need a professional?

When the water is sewage or floodwater, when the loss is large or has reached several rooms, when a pipe has burst or a leak is still active, or when the water has soaked into walls or under flooring. In those cases the hidden part of the problem is usually the larger part.

Can I dry out a small leak myself?

A small, clean-water leak that is caught early and has not soaked into the structure may be a simpler matter, but if the water has reached wall cavities or subflooring, or if you are unsure whether the area is dry, a professional inspection is the safer step.

Why is sewage cleanup always professional-only?

Because sewage is Category 3 black water, which is grossly contaminated. Cleanup needs equipment and precautions suited to contaminated water, and household cleaning does not deal with contamination inside building materials.

What should I do before the professional arrives?

Shut the water off if it is safe to do so from a dry place, move belongings away from the water where that can be done safely, and note when the water started and where it came from. Do not enter flooded areas or handle electrics in water.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Emergency Water Removal page explains what that service covers, and the water damage restoration page explains how the full sequence works when water has reached more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water damage help is available across Louisiana. See water damage restoration in Keachi, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.