The first 48 hours determine the size of the project
A roof leak caught and dried in the first 24 to 48 hours is usually a 1-week patch and dry. Same leak left for 6 weeks turns into a mold remediation, drywall replacement, insulation removal, and likely an insurance claim. The work to prevent that escalation is short and physical.
Hour 0 to 2
- Stop the active dripping. Bucket under the drip. Tarp on the roof if you can safely access it, or call a roofer to tarp.
- Document everything. Take wide and close-up photos of every wet area inside the house. Date them. These photos become evidence for the insurance claim later.
- Pull anything porous away from the wet area. Rugs, cushions, mattresses, stored cardboard, paper goods. Move them to a dry area.
- Find the source if it's accessible. Often the entry point is far from where you see the drip; water travels along framing before falling. Look in the attic.
Hour 2 to 12
- Call your insurance agent. Don't file the claim yet; just notify them. They'll often send an adjuster within 24 to 72 hours.
- Set up drying. Fans pointing at the wet area, dehumidifier in the room. The faster the materials dry, the less likely they'll grow mold.
- Pull out wet insulation in the attic. Wet fiberglass loses insulation value and stays wet for weeks. Wet cellulose holds water like a sponge. Bag it and remove it; you'll replace it later as part of the repair.
- Cut open one small inspection hole in the wall or ceiling if you suspect moisture has migrated into the cavity. Better to verify and dry than to seal and discover mold later.
Hour 12 to 48
- Keep the fans and dehumidifier running. Continuous. Don't shut them off overnight.
- Take daily moisture readings if you have a moisture meter ($30 at any hardware store). Wood subfloor below 16% is dry. Above 20% is concerning.
- Check the photos against the current state. Is the wet area expanding? If yes, the source isn't fully resolved.
- Schedule a roof repair if the leak source is the roof. Most roofers can come within 48 to 72 hours of a call; same-day if the weather is forecast to stay wet.
What to ask the insurance adjuster
When they come out:
- "Does the policy cover sudden and accidental water damage from a roof leak?" (Almost always yes if the leak is sudden, e.g., storm damage.)
- "Does it cover the mold remediation if mold develops despite our drying efforts?" (Often capped; ask for the cap amount.)
- "What's the scope you'll approve for testing if we're worried about hidden moisture?"
- "Can I use my own remediation contractor or is there a preferred provider network?"
Get answers in writing if possible.
When to call a remediator
Call us during the first 48 hours if:
- The wet area is larger than 10 square feet
- Water came through more than one ceiling or wall
- The leak was active for more than 24 hours before you discovered it
- You have HVAC ductwork in the affected area
- You're not confident the moisture is fully dried within 48 hours
We're not a roofing company; the roof repair is separate. But we'll inspect for hidden moisture, do moisture mapping with calibrated meters, and tell you whether the situation needs remediation or just drying. The inspection is free and often saves a remediation by catching the issue early.
What NOT to do
- Don't paint over wet drywall. Locks the moisture in.
- Don't put insulation back over wet framing.
- Don't accept a roofer's offer to also 'do the drying' if they're not an IICRC-certified water restoration company. Improper drying is the most common reason a small leak becomes a mold job.
- Don't wait for the insurance adjuster before drying. Insurance pays for proper mitigation; they don't penalize you for starting it before they arrive.
Next step
If you're in the first 48 hours of a roof leak right now, the fastest path to a useful answer is the photo upload at moldremovalandtesting.com/photo-check. We reply within 2 business hours with a moisture-risk assessment and a yes/no on whether the situation needs an in-person inspection.