So You Find Yourself Facing Water Damage—Now What?
Water damage is stressful, unexpected, and expensive. Whether it’s from a burst pipe, a backed-up sump pump, or heavy rain seeping into your basement, the first instinct many people have is to grab some towels, a wet/dry vac, and get to work.
At Cousino Restoration, we’ve helped homeowners and business owners all over the region deal with all types of water emergencies. And one question we hear all the time is: “Can I handle this myself, or do I need to call in the pros?”
The short answer? It depends. The longer answer is what we’ll break down in this article. We want you to have all the information you need to make the right decision for your home, your health, and your budget.
Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways
- DIY water damage restoration can appear like it will save you money, but often it’s at the risk of greater damage.
- Quick action is essential to prevent mold, structural issues, and further water damage.
- Hidden moisture behind walls and floors is hard to detect without professional tools.
- Professionals have the equipment and experience to restore your home safely and effectively.
- DIY may work for small spills, but larger water damage situations should be handled by a certified restoration company.
The Appeal of DIY Water Damage Cleanup
Doing it yourself definitely has its perks:
- It feels immediate: You can start right away without waiting for a crew.
- It seems cheaper: No bill from a professional company.
- It gives you a sense of control: Especially in chaotic situations.
If the water damage seems minor, like a small leak under the sink or a puddle from a tipped-over plant, it might make sense to handle it yourself. You clean it up, dry the area, and move on.
But here’s the thing: water damage can be sneaky.
What You Can Handle Yourself
There are scenarios where DIY water cleanup might be totally fine. For example:
- A small spill or leak that’s contained on a hard surface.
- Water that hasn’t soaked into flooring, walls, or insulation.
- You caught the issue right away (within minutes or an hour).
If it’s a small, manageable amount of clean water (known as Category 1 water), and you have the tools to dry it quickly, you may not need to call a professional.
In these cases, you’ll want to:
- Mop or vacuum up all standing water.
- Use fans to circulate air.
- Use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air.
- Monitor the area over the next few days for signs of mold or odor.
But as the situation grows in size or if the water has been sitting for a while, that’s when things get tricky.
What DIY Restoration Can’t Do
Here’s where the reality of water damage sets in: what you see is often just the surface of what is really going on.
Water seeps under floors, into wall cavities, and behind baseboards. It can damage insulation, wood framing, and even your home’s foundation. The biggest dangers of DIY water damage restoration are what you miss.
Here’s what most DIY setups can’t detect or fix:
- Moisture inside walls or subfloors
- Water that spreads into inaccessible areas
- Structural weakening of floors or drywall
- Mold growth (which can begin in as little as 24–48 hours)
- Contaminated water cleanup (like sewage or floodwater)
We use advanced moisture meters, thermal imaging, industrial air movers, and commercial-grade dehumidifiers, which are tools most homeowners simply don’t have access to. Without these, it’s nearly impossible to know if an area is truly dry.
The Risk of Mold and Bacteria
Water that isn’t cleaned up properly creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Once it starts growing, you’re dealing with a whole different problem, and the need for additional services.
Many DIY jobs fail to fully dry an area, especially behind walls or under flooring. That leftover moisture becomes a mold hazard, leading to:
- Health issues: especially for people with allergies or asthma
- Unpleasant odors: musty smells that never seem to go away
- Structural problems: mold eats away at wood and drywall
If you start to notice these problems days or weeks after your DIY cleanup, you may find yourself having to pay for both mold remediation and water damage restoration.
When You Really Need a Professional
There are a few red flags that mean you should skip the DIY route and call a professional like Cousino Restoration right away:
- You don’t know where the water is coming from.
- The water has been sitting for more than 24 hours.
- There’s visible mold or a musty smell.
- The area involves carpet, drywall, wood flooring, or insulation.
- The water is dirty or comes from outside (floodwater, sewage, etc.).
- You notice discoloration, warping, or bubbling in walls or floors.
Also, if you’re dealing with a large amount of water (like from a burst pipe or water heater), the damage is usually more widespread than it appears. This is especially true for basements.
The Cost Factor: Is DIY Actually Cheaper?
It might seem like you’re saving money by skipping the restoration crew, but are you really? Without even considering the amount of time you invest into learning the process and taking the job on yourself, the DIY method still generally ends up having a higher price tag than trusting in the professionals.
Let’s say you clean up what looks like a minor leak on your own. A few weeks later, your baseboards start to swell, your flooring buckles, or mold shows up in the corner. Now you’re paying for:
- Mold remediation
- Replacing flooring or drywall
- Professional restoration (because now the job is bigger)
Not to mention, your insurance company may not cover secondary damage if you didn’t take proper action upfront.
Professional restoration might seem like a bigger upfront cost, but it can save you from much more expensive problems later.
Insurance Considerations
If your water damage is covered by insurance, they’ll likely want proof that the cleanup was done correctly. Cousino Restoration works directly with many insurance providers and understands the documentation they require.
If you handle the job yourself and the damage gets worse or if mold develops you might have a hard time getting the costs covered.
Professional Restoration: What We Actually Do
You might be wondering what the process looks like when you hire a company like Cousino Restoration. Here’s how we typically handle water damage restoration:
- Emergency response – We show up fast and start assessing the damage right away.
- Water removal – We use high-powered extractors to remove standing water.
- Drying and dehumidification – Industrial air movers and dehumidifiers dry the space thoroughly.
- Moisture detection – Thermal imaging and moisture meters help us find hidden water.
- Sanitizing and deodorizing – We clean and disinfect the affected areas to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Restoration and repair – We repair or replace damaged materials as needed.
The goal isn’t just to dry your home, it’s to bring it back to pre-loss condition and ensure it’s safe, healthy, and structurally sound.
Peace of Mind Matters
At the end of the day, there’s a lot to be said for peace of mind. When you DIY water damage restoration, you’re taking on a lot of responsibility, not just for cleanup, but for the health and safety of your home.
With Cousino Restoration, you get:
- Experienced technicians trained in water damage, mold prevention, and structural drying.
- Specialized equipment to detect moisture and ensure full drying.
- Support working with insurance to make the claims process easier.
- A team that cares about doing the job right and keeping your home safe.
So, Should You DIY or Not?
DIY water damage restoration might be okay if:
- The water is clean and minimal.
- You spotted it immediately.
- It hasn’t touched porous materials.
- You’re confident you’ve dried the area completely.
But for anything larger, messier, or more complex, hiring a professional is the safer, smarter move.
Water damage can escalate quickly, and the restoration process goes way beyond just water removal. It’s about stopping mold, protecting your structure, and preventing future issues.
When in doubt, its always best to consult with an expert you can trust to give you an honest opinion without trying to oversell you, like our experts at Cousino Restoration.
Call Cousino Restoration. We’re Here When You Need Us
If you’re facing water damage, don’t guess. Don’t wait. Whether you need help assessing the damage or you’re ready for full restoration, the team at Cousino Restoration is ready to help.
We’ve been serving homeowners and businesses with trusted water damage restoration services for decades. Our goal is to protect your property, reduce your stress, and get life back to normal, fast.
Let us handle the mess so you don’t have to. When water damage strikes, Cousino Restoration has your back. Call us now.