If you’ve just walked into a flooded room, you’re probably panicking — and that’s completely understandable. But knowing exactly what should you do after water damage can be the difference between a manageable repair and a full-blown mold and structural nightmare. Whether you’re in Charter Oak, West Covina, Citrus, or the Walnut Island area, the steps you take in the first few hours matter more than most homeowners realize.
At All and 1 Restoration, we’re a locally owned and operated water damage restoration team serving Covina and the surrounding communities. We’ve responded to hundreds of emergency calls — some at 2 in the afternoon, others at 7 in the evening — and every job has reinforced one thing: the steps you take in the first few hours are everything.
Step 1: Stop the Source of Water Immediately
Before anything else, you need to stop the water. If it’s a plumbing leak, locate your main shutoff valve and turn it off. If you don’t know where it is, call a licensed plumber immediately — this is not the time to guess.
At All and 1 Restoration, we have a trusted plumber on call around the clock. When a homeowner in the Vincent area called us at 7 PM after coming home to a flooded kitchen, our first move was dispatching our plumber to shut off the source before we ever touched a single drop of standing water. You can’t begin restoration until the water stops — skipping this step is one of the most costly mistakes we see homeowners make.
According to the EPA, household leaks can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year — and a burst pipe can release significantly more in just hours.
Step 2: Call All and 1 Restoration — Not a 1-800 Number
Here’s something we hear all the time from homeowners in La Puente, San Dimas, and West Covina: “We called a big national company and felt like just a number.”
That’s one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make after water damage — relying on large franchise operations that send rotating crews with no personal accountability. When you call All and 1 Restoration, you get the owner on the phone. We show up. We explain every step. And we stay until the job is done right.
Being owner-operated means we treat your home like it’s our own. We know these neighborhoods — from the homes near the Covina foothills to the older properties in Charter Oak with aging pipes and crawl spaces. That local knowledge matters when you need fast, accurate damage assessment. Learn more about our water damage restoration services and what sets us apart from the big guys.
Step 3: Extract Water and Begin Drying — Fast
Time is not on your side. FEMA’s flooding guidelines warn that mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure. That means extraction and drying need to start immediately.
Going back to that 7 PM call in Vincent — after our plumber shut off the leak, the All and 1 Restoration crew immediately moved in with industrial extractors to remove standing water, then set up professional air movers and dehumidifiers to begin the structural drying process. By the time most homeowners would still be on hold with a big national company, we already had boots on the ground and equipment running.
The key steps in this phase include:
- Water extraction using truck-mounted or portable extractors
- Moisture mapping with thermal imaging to find hidden water in walls and subfloors
- Industrial drying equipment — not household fans
- Daily moisture readings to track progress and protect your structure
What Should I Do After Water Damage to Prevent Mold?
This is the question the All and 1 Restoration team gets most often — and the answer is: act within the first 24 hours.
Mold thrives in warm, damp environments. In Southern California, where summers run hot and humidity can spike, a wet wall cavity in a home in Citrus or Walnut Island can become a mold colony faster than you’d think. The CDC recommends drying water-damaged areas within 24–48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Here’s what our team does to stay ahead of mold:
- Remove saturated materials that cannot be dried (drywall below the waterline, soaked insulation)
- Apply EPA-registered antimicrobial treatments to at-risk surfaces
- Seal off affected areas to prevent cross-contamination
- Monitor with moisture meters daily until readings return to baseline
Do not rely on a big box store fan and hope for the best. Improper drying is one of the leading causes of mold problems we’re called in to remediate months after the original incident — and it always costs more the second time around. Check out our mold remediation services to learn how we protect your home long after the water is gone.
Step 4: Document Everything for Your Insurance Claim
Before you move anything, take photos and video of every inch of the damage. Open cabinets, pull back rugs, and document the walls. Insurance companies require thorough documentation, and gaps in your photos can result in denied or reduced claims.
All and 1 Restoration works alongside homeowners throughout the entire insurance process. We help document damage properly, provide moisture logs, and communicate directly with your adjuster — something big national companies routinely leave you to handle on your own.
The California Department of Insurance offers guidance on filing water damage claims that every California homeowner should bookmark.
All and 1 Restoration Serves Your Neighborhood
We’re proud to serve homeowners across the San Gabriel Valley, including:
Covina · West Covina · Charter Oak · Citrus · Vincent · Walnut Island · San Dimas · La Puente
If you’re dealing with water damage right now — whether it’s a burst pipe, an appliance leak, or storm flooding — don’t wait and don’t settle for a company that treats you like a ticket number.
The Bottom Line: What Should I Do After Water Damage?
- Stop the water source — call a plumber immediately if needed
- Call All and 1 Restoration — owner-operated, local, and fast
- Extract water and start drying within hours — not days
- Take action against mold before it has a chance to grow
- Document everything for your insurance claim
Water damage doesn’t wait, and neither does All and 1 Restoration. We’re available for emergency response and ready to help Covina-area homeowners get back on their feet — the right way, the first time.
📞 Contact All and 1 Restoration today for emergency water damage help.