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💧 Water Damage & Flood Cleanup · All 5 boroughs
Water damage or flooding in NYC? Get matched with a local cleanup company
Standing water and wet walls get worse by the hour: water wicks up drywall, soaks under floors and can start mold within days. The steps below limit the damage while you wait for help. If you want, we can connect you with an independent local water-damage company for free.
- Free to use — no obligation
- Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island
- You choose whether to hire anyone
Heads-up: we’re a referral service, not the company that does the work. We pass your request to independent local providers.
What to do right now
- Stop the water if you can: close the main shut-off valve (often in the basement or near the water meter, or under the kitchen sink in many apartments).
- If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, do not walk through it. Turn off power at the breaker only if you can reach it while standing somewhere dry.
- In an apartment, tell your super or managing agent now. The leak may be coming from a unit above you.
- Take photos and video of everything wet before you move it. Insurers usually want to see the damage.
- Move furniture, rugs and electronics out of the water. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs.
- Open windows and run fans if the power is safe. Don’t use a household vacuum on standing water.
⚠️ Safety first
- Floodwater from outside or from a sewer backup can carry sewage. Wear gloves and boots and keep kids and pets out.
- A sagging ceiling can hold a lot of water. Stay out from under it.
- If you smell gas, leave right away and call 911 from outside. Gas emergency lines: Con Edison 1-800-752-6633; National Grid (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) 1-718-643-4050.
Common causes
- Burst or frozen pipes, especially on outside walls in winter
- Washing machine, dishwasher or water-heater failures
- A leak from the apartment upstairs
- Sewer backup or a failed sump pump during heavy rain
- Coastal or flash flooding in low-lying blocks
- Roof or window leaks that soak walls over time
What to ask before you hire
- Do you do water extraction and drying, or only one of them? Who handles the mold check afterward?
- Will you measure moisture in walls and floors and give me written readings?
- Can you work directly with my insurance company, and do you give a written estimate before starting?
- If walls or floors need to be rebuilt, do you hold a NYC Home Improvement Contractor license for that part? (You can check a license on the DCWP site.)
- How soon can someone be here, and what does the first visit cost?
Water Damage & Flood Cleanup by borough
Jump to: Brooklyn · Queens · Manhattan · Bronx · Staten Island
Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Brooklyn
Brownstones and row houses in Brooklyn often have old supply lines and basements that sit below the sewer line, so a backup during a downpour is a common call. Waterfront areas such as Red Hook, Coney Island and Gerritsen Beach also face coastal flooding; you can look up your block on the City’s Coastal Flood Hazard Mapper.
Get matched with a Brooklyn pro →Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Queens
Much of Queens is one- and two-family houses with finished basements, where a failed sump pump or a sewer backup can flood a whole floor. The Rockaways and Howard Beach sit right on the water, so storm surge is a separate risk there.
Get matched with a Queens pro →Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Manhattan
In Manhattan most water damage starts in another unit: a leak upstairs, a riser, or a building pipe. Call the super or managing agent first; in co-ops and condos the building may need to approve who does the work.
Get matched with a Manhattan pro →Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Bronx
Prewar apartment buildings across the Bronx have aging risers and steam heat, so leaks from above and from radiator valves are common. In a rental, tell your landlord in writing as well as by phone.
Get matched with a Bronx pro →Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Staten Island
Staten Island has many single-family homes with basements and crawl spaces. The East and South Shore neighborhoods are low-lying and coastal, so check the City’s flood map and keep photos for your flood insurer.
Get matched with a Staten Island pro →Questions
Is water damage covered by insurance?
It depends on your policy and what caused it. Standard homeowners policies often treat sudden leaks differently from flooding or slow leaks, and flood damage usually needs separate flood insurance. Call your insurer and keep photos.
How fast should I start drying?
As soon as the water is stopped and the power is safe. The longer materials stay wet, the more likely you’ll need to replace them and deal with mold.
Who pays when the leak came from upstairs?
That depends on your lease, the building’s rules and the insurance involved. Report it to the building right away and document everything.
Do you charge me for the referral?
No. The referral is free for you. Any work is agreed and paid directly between you and the company you choose.
How this works
- Tell us what’s wrong: the form takes about a minute.
- We pass your request to an independent local company that handles this kind of job in your area.
- They contact you to talk through the problem and the price. You decide whether to hire them.
The referral is free. We may be paid by the provider or a referral network. We don’t check or guarantee licenses, insurance, prices or quality. Please verify any company before you hire it. More on how it works.