Homeowner Equipment Rentals

A leak tonight: what to do, in order

Most homeowners who rent drying equipment are dealing with a leak that just happened: a burst supply line, a water heater, an air conditioning drain, or a storm leak. Work through the steps below one at a time.

You do not need to know equipment names. Send a short request that says what happened and which rooms got wet, and HBS will recommend a setup.

1. Stop the water

• Close the valve at the fixture or appliance. If you cannot find it, or it does not stop the leak, close the main water shutoff.
• For a roof or window leak during a storm, catch drips with buckets and move belongings away from the wet area. Do not climb onto a roof in the dark or in bad weather.
• If the water is sewage or a toilet backflow, outside floodwater or storm surge, or washing machine or dishwasher water, skip ahead to the professional section below. Rental equipment is not for that water.

2. Make it safe

• If water has reached outlets, cords or appliances, turn off power at the main breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot without touching anything wet. If the panel is wet or you would have to stand in water, stay out and call an electrician, as the CDC advises.
• If water reached outlets, wiring or the panel, have a qualified electrician inspect the system before the power goes back on.
• Never plug in, unplug or touch electrical equipment while you are standing in water.
• Stay out from under a ceiling that sags or bulges with water.
• If you smell gas, leave the house and call for help from outside.

3. Take photos for the insurer before you clean

If you may file a claim, documentation starts now. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) advises homeowners to:

• Report the claim to the insurance company or agent promptly.
• Make emergency repairs that prevent further damage, take photos and video before and after them, and keep every receipt.
• List the damaged items with product descriptions.
• Keep damaged belongings until the adjuster says they can go, unless they are a health risk. Photograph anything you must throw out.

Florida law sets a deadline: notice of a new property insurance claim must be given within 1 year after the date of loss (section 627.70132, Florida Statutes).

DFS also notes that most homeowners policies exclude flood damage; ask your agent whether you have a separate flood policy. Ask your insurer what your policy covers before you assume any rental or service will be reimbursed, and contact the DFS Division of Consumer Services if you need help with the claim.

4. Remove standing water and move belongings

• Once the power is safe, pick up standing water with a wet-dry shop vacuum, never a household vacuum. A dehumidifier dries damp materials; it is not built to pump out a flooded floor.
• Move furniture, rugs, boxes and electronics out of the wet area.
• Take wet area rugs and cushions out to dry separately.
• Open closet and cabinet doors and pull out drawers so air reaches the wet surfaces.

5. Choose by project need

For a clean-water leak in one or two rooms, a homeowner setup usually includes:

• A commercial dehumidifier with a drain hose, so there is no bucket to empty.
• A few air movers angled so the air flows across the wet walls and floors, not straight at them. Small units suit single rooms; large units suit open floor plans.
• A moisture meter so you know when the job is finished instead of guessing.
• An Injecti-Dry system if water got inside walls or under cabinets.

How many units you need depends on how much wall, floor and carpet got wet. The guide to how many dehumidifiers and air movers you need walks through the count, and the water-damage drying equipment guide covers setup. Base rates are in the rental rates table.

For dust or particles rather than water, see portable HEPA air purification for targeted particle control or large-capacity HEPA air scrubbing for bigger work areas; neither one dries a room.

6. Run the equipment the right way

• Keep windows and doors closed while the dehumidifier runs, as ENERGY STAR advises, and keep the air conditioning on a normal setting unless water reached the ducts or the air handler.
• Run the equipment day and night; turning it off at night slows drying.
• Plug units into more than one circuit and keep cords out of walkways and away from water. The CPSC warns against running extension cords under carpets or furniture, and against overloading them.
• Expect noise and warm air from the dehumidifier; that is normal.
• Take a reading on the same material in a room that stayed dry. That is your target. Then read the wet spots at the same time each day.
• Call HBS if the numbers stop improving or a breaker keeps tripping.

The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, so start as soon as the leak is stopped and standing water is out.

What not to do

• Do not touch electrical equipment or the breaker panel while standing in water.
• Do not run air movers where you see mold growing; call an appropriate experienced professional instead. The FEMA and CDC mold cleanup guide warns that fans may spread it.
• Do not use the central air conditioning to dry the house if water reached the ducts or the air handler, until a professional says it is safe, per the EPA flooded-home guidance.
• Do not paint, caulk or close up walls over damp or moldy material. The EPA notes that paint over mold is likely to peel.
• Do not throw away damaged belongings before they are photographed and your insurer has had a chance to see them.
• Do not stop the equipment the moment surfaces feel dry. Drywall, cabinets and subfloors can stay wet inside after the surface looks fine; the moisture meter tells you when they match the dry reference.
• Do not sign a repair contract in a hurry. DFS advises reporting damage to your insurance company before signing any contracts.

When to call a professional instead

Renting works when the water was clean (Category 1), the area is safe, and someone can run and check the equipment every day. Stop and call an appropriate experienced professional when:

• The water came from sewage or a toilet backflow, or from outside floodwater or storm surge. The EPA recommends a professional experienced with buildings damaged by contaminated water.
• The water came from a washing machine or dishwasher overflow, or a toilet overflow without feces, which the IICRC S500 standard places in Category 2.
• You see or smell mold. Do not run air movers there: the FEMA and CDC guide warns that fans may spread it, and the EPA recommends professional help for mold covering more than about 10 square feet.
• A ceiling sags, a floor feels soft, or there is other structural damage.
• There is any electrical hazard, such as wet outlets, wiring or a wet electrical panel.
• Materials stayed wet for more than 48 hours before drying started, or readings stop improving after several days of running equipment. Clean water that has sat for days can degrade.
• Someone in the home has asthma, a weakened immune system or other health concerns. The EPA suggests talking with a health professional before cleanup.

HBS does not offer mold remediation or contaminated-water cleanup, and neither a rental nor HBS's water-only drying includes restoration or repairs. To compare doing it yourself with hiring a dry-out, read rent drying equipment or hire a dry-out.

Common questions

What should I do first when a pipe bursts?

Close the fixture valve or the main water shutoff, then make the area safe. Turn off power at the main breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot without touching anything wet; otherwise stay out and call an electrician. Have a qualified electrician inspect the system before the power goes back on. Photograph the damage before you clean up.

Should I open the windows to dry the house?

Not while a dehumidifier is running. Keep windows and doors closed so the dehumidifier dries the room rather than outdoor air, and keep the air conditioning on a normal setting unless water reached the ducts or the air handler.

Will my insurance pay for the rental?

It depends on your policy, so ask your insurer before you assume a rental will be reimbursed. Keep the written quote and receipts, and photograph the damage before and after emergency repairs, as the Florida Department of Financial Services advises.

When should a homeowner hire a professional instead?

When the water came from sewage, a toilet overflow or backflow, a washing machine or dishwasher overflow, or outside floodwater or storm surge; you see or smell mold; materials stayed wet for more than 48 hours before drying started; a ceiling sags or there is other structural damage; there is an electrical hazard; or readings stop improving. For a clean-water leak, you can also ask HBS about its separately scoped water-only dry-out at (772) 677-1735.