Who to Call First When You Have Water Damage (It's Not Your Insurance Company)

Water damage in Colorado Springs requires restoration company contact within 1 hour of discovery—before calling insurance—to prevent mold growth and claim denial. Mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours on wet materials, and delaying mitigation may result in reduced payouts under your policy's duty-to-mitigate clause.

Key Takeaways

• Call restoration company first; Colorado Springs standard response is 60 minutes for emergencies
• Mold begins growing within 24-48 hours; visible growth appears by 72 hours on wet materials
• Insurance policies require loss notification within 24-48 hours of water damage discovery
• Duty-to-mitigate clause makes you responsible for immediate damage prevention or face claim denial

Stop. That's the wrong first call.

Here's the sequence that actually protects your home and your claim, and why getting it backwards can cost you.

Should you call a restoration company first for water damage?

The moment you discover water damage, your priority is stopping the damage from getting worse. Water does not wait for paperwork.

Every hour that passes, water migrates further into subfloor, wall cavities, and insulation. Within 24 to 48 hours, mold can begin growing on wet organic material. What starts as a fixable water event can turn into a full mold remediation job if drying is delayed.

A certified restoration company's job is emergency mitigation: extracting standing water, setting up drying equipment, and stopping the spread. That work needs to start immediately.

Why does calling insurance first before restoration harm your water damage claim?

Most homeowner policies include a duty-to-mitigate clause. This means you are responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss. If you wait hours or days for an adjuster to arrive before beginning mitigation, your insurer may argue that additional damage occurred because you failed to act.

In practice, this can result in a reduced payout or a denied claim for damage that developed after the initial event.

Restoration companies deal with insurance adjusters constantly. A reputable IICRC-certified company will document everything during the mitigation process: photos, moisture readings, equipment logs, and scope of work. That documentation is exactly what your adjuster needs to process your claim accurately.

What is the correct sequence for water damage response in Colorado Springs?

1. Stop the source. Shut off your main water supply if the damage is from a plumbing failure. For flooding, move things out of the water's path if it's safe to do so.

2. Call a restoration company. Get a team on the way to begin water damage restoration and extraction. In Colorado Springs, 60-minute response is standard for emergency calls.

3. Document before anything is moved. Take video and photos of all visible damage before the crew arrives. Walk every affected room. This is your evidence.

4. Call your insurance company. Once the restoration company is en route and you've documented the damage, notify your insurer. Most policies require notification within 24 to 48 hours of a loss.

5. Let the restoration company communicate directly with your adjuster. You don't have to manage that process yourself. A good restoration team does this regularly.

Can you choose your own restoration company or must you use your insurer's recommendation?

One thing many homeowners don't realize: your insurance company may recommend a preferred contractor, but you are not required to use them. You have the right to hire any licensed, certified restoration company you choose.

This matters because a company recommended by your insurer is, in some cases, working to keep costs down for the insurer, not necessarily to restore your home to its pre-loss condition. Choose a company that is working for you.

How quickly does mold grow after water damage occurs?

Mold growth typically begins within 24 to 48 hours on wet building materials, according to EPA guidance. By 72 hours, visible surface growth can appear on drywall, wood framing, and carpet padding.

Once mold is present, your restoration job gets significantly more expensive and more disruptive. Mold remediation is its own separate process that involves containment, air filtration, removal of contaminated materials, and clearance testing.

The fastest way to avoid that outcome is to get drying equipment running within the first few hours of a water event.

Special Cases: Sewage Backup

If your water damage involves sewage, whether from a backed-up main line, a toilet overflow, or a floor drain that reversed, treat it as a health emergency. This is Category 3 black water and contains bacteria and pathogens.

Don't attempt to clean it yourself. Get out of the affected area, call a restoration company immediately, and keep children and pets away. Our sewage cleanup service handles full decontamination.

A Note on Monument and Security-Widefield Homeowners

If you're in an outlying area like Monument or Security-Widefield, don't assume a longer response time means you should delay calling. The sooner mitigation starts, the better your outcome, regardless of distance. We serve the full Colorado Springs metro area.

Bottom Line

Restoration company first. Insurance company second. Every time. The sequence exists because water damage gets worse by the hour, and your policy requires you to act.

Call us at (719) 824-1650 or request a free damage assessment.