# Free Water Damage Response & Insurance Checklist | Water Damage Tempe

> A free, printable checklist covering the first steps after water damage and insurance-claim documentation for Tempe and the Phoenix metro.

URL: https://waterdamagetempe.com/resources/

## Before Help Arrives

Water sitting in a Phoenix-metro home starts a clock — mold can begin colonizing damaged
material within 24-48 hours.

- Stop the source if you safely can — shut off the water supply valve for a burst pipe or failed appliance.
- Never enter standing water you suspect is sewage — Category 3 (black) water is a biohazard.
- Move what you can off the floor, if it's safe to do so.
- Increase airflow if it's safe and the water source is clean.
- Don't wait to call — the sooner extraction starts, the less material has to be replaced instead of dried.

## Insurance Claim Documentation Checklist

Whether damage was "sudden" (typically covered) or "gradual" (typically not) is the single
most decision-relevant distinction for an Arizona homeowners policy.

- Photograph before any cleanup — wide and close shots, multiple angles, same day.
- Photograph undamaged areas too, for contrast.
- Note the date and cause as best you understand it.
- Keep receipts for anything you purchase to mitigate damage.
- Get a professional assessment before assuming coverage either way.
- Report to your insurer promptly.

## When to Call a Professional Right Away

- Any sewage backup or Category 3 (black) water
- Standing water that's been sitting more than a few hours
- Water damage in a rental property
- Any water damage you're considering an insurance claim for