Water damage
Water damage cost: what drying and repair run
Water damage is priced per square foot of wet floor, and the type of water sets where in the range you land. Dry it within 48 hours and it stays a water job. Wait, and it becomes a mold job too.
Extraction and drying
$3.00 to $7.50 per sq ft
National average repair $3,865. Most pay $450 to $16,000.
Source: ServPro citing Angi 2026. Labor included. Planning ranges, not quotes.
Price your wet area
Measure the wet floor, room by room, and add it up. A 10 by 12 foot room is 120 square feet. Count carpet that squishes and floors that read wet, even where the surface looks dry.
The range uses the full published rate. The reference line uses the rate for the type of water you pick. Neither includes rebuilding: new drywall, flooring, and cabinets are priced after the house is dry.
Extraction and drying
$600 to $1,500
At the clean water reference rate of $3.50 per sq ft: about $700.
If mold has already started, published data adds $1,200 to $3,800. A company confirms scope and price on site.
The type of water sets the price
Restoration crews sort every loss into one of three categories. The category decides what can be dried in place, what comes out, and how much cleaning goes in.
Category 1
Clean water
$3.50 per sq ft
Clean water (supply line, rain)
A supply line, a burst pipe, rain through a roof. Porous materials can often be dried in place when drying starts fast.
Category 2
Gray water
$5.25 per sq ft
Gray water (appliance, sump)
A washing machine or dishwasher drain, a sump pump failure. Carries contaminants. Carpet pad and other porous materials it soaked usually come out.
Category 3
Black water
$7.50 per sq ft
Black water (flood, sewage)
Flood water from outside, sewage backup. Grossly contaminated. Porous materials it touched come out rather than get dried in place.
Source: ServPro citing Angi 2026. Rates are reference points within the $3.00 to $7.50 published range.
Cost by where the water came from
The first hour
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Stop the water
Shut the main valve for a pipe or supply line, or the valve behind the appliance. For a roof leak, catch what you can and move belongings out from under it.
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Stay away from wiring
Water near outlets, the panel, or appliances is an electrical hazard. Cut power at the breaker only if you can reach it dry.
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Photograph everything
Wide shots of every wet room, close shots of the source, and the water line on walls, before anything moves. Your insurance file starts here.
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Start drying
Pull wet rugs and cushions out, open cabinet doors, and run fans and a dehumidifier when the area is safe. Every hour of drying shrinks the job.
This is not an emergency service. For a life-safety emergency, a gas smell, an electrical hazard, or water near wiring, call 911 or your utility first.
The 48 hour line
EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. When wet materials are dried in that window, in most cases mold will not grow. That window is the difference between a drying bill and a drying bill plus a mold bill.
Published 2026 data puts mold added to a water loss caught late at $1,200 to $3,800. Wall cavities, carpet pad, and the bottom of cabinets hold water long after the floor looks dry, which is why crews map moisture with meters before they call a room done.
Already seeing growth or smelling it? The mold after a flood page and the flood mold cost guide cover what that adds.
Insurance, in general terms
Homeowners policies generally cover sudden events such as a burst pipe. Insurance.com lists long-term leaks, floods, sewer backup, and ground seepage as common exclusions, and flood damage falls under a separate flood policy. Ask your agent before work starts, and keep every photo and invoice. The insurance guide covers mold caps.
Questions people ask
How much does water damage restoration cost?
Published 2026 data puts extraction and drying at $3.00 to $7.50 per square foot of wet floor, with labor included. The national average repair is $3,865, and most homeowners pay $450 to $16,000. The source: ServPro citing Angi 2026.
Why does the type of water change the price?
Contaminated water means more material comes out and more cleaning goes in. The reference rates run $3.50 per square foot for a minor clean water loss, $5.25 for gray water in one room, and $7.50 for black water across several rooms.
How fast does mold start after a leak?
EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and that in most cases mold will not grow when wet materials are dried in that window. After that, a water job can turn into a mold job.
What does mold add to a water loss?
Published 2026 data puts mold added to a water loss caught late at $1,200 to $3,800, on top of the extraction and drying. Starting the drying fast is the cheapest thing you can do.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Policies generally cover sudden events such as a burst pipe and exclude long-term leaks, floods, sewer backup, and ground seepage, according to Insurance.com. Where mold is covered, caps typically run $1,000 to $10,000. Ask your agent what your policy covers before work starts.
Can I dry it out myself?
You can start: stop the water, remove standing water, pull wet rugs, and run fans and a dehumidifier. Water inside walls, under floors, or from a contaminated source needs moisture meters and equipment, and EPA points to professional guidance when there is a lot of water damage.
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