If you’re a parent in Chicago, Skokie, Evanston, Glenview, or Lake Forest, you live in a house that never stops moving. Kids, pets, school drop-offs, laundry cycles, dishwasher loads — and then suddenly…

There’s water on the floor.

A toilet overflow.
A dishwasher leak.
A furnace drip.
A burst hose behind the washing machine.
A surprise puddle in the basement.

And in that moment, you don’t need a lecture — you need a checklist. Fast. Clear. No guesswork.

This guide gives Chicago parents a 10-minute stabilization plan you can use before calling a professional so you can protect your home, your kids, and your peace of mind.

Why Water Damage Is Worse for Busy Families

Chicago’s climate and housing stock work against parents:

Freeze–thaw cycles → pipe breaks

Winter shifts crack pipes in basements, crawlspaces, and behind walls.

Older plumbing in North Shore + Chicago homes

Evanston, Wilmette, Oak Park, and many Chicago neighborhoods have copper, galvanized, or PVC piping that’s decades old.

Basements = prime targets

Finished basements with playrooms, gaming areas, or carpet soak up water fast.

Laundry rooms and bathrooms see constant use

Kids overflow toilets, washing machines fail mid-cycle, and tubs spill over.

Water damage begins within minutes

• drywall absorbs water in 5–10 minutes
• baseboards swell
• flooring delaminates
• mold can begin growing within 48–72 hours

When you’re juggling sports schedules, homework, and dinner, there’s no time to overthink. You just need to act.

THE 10-MINUTE CHECKLIST EVERY CHICAGO PARENT SHOULD USE

This is the exact emergency checklist we give to families before our crews arrive.

It buys you time, prevents major damage, and keeps your kids safe until help arrives.

Minute 1–2: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Before touching anything:

• Keep kids and pets away from the affected area.
• Avoid standing water near outlets or power strips.
• If the water is near a basement furnace or power source, stay clear.

If you see sparks, smell burning, or water is touching electrical lines → evacuate and call 911.

Minute 3: Stop the Source (If You Can Do It Safely)

• Turn off the water supply to the leaking fixture
• For toilets → turn the valve behind the bowl
• For sinks → valves are under the cabinet
• For washing machines → use the hot/cold shutoff
• For burst pipes → use the main shutoff near the water meter

If you cannot find or operate the shutoff, skip this step.

Minute 4–5: Take Three Fast Photos

Just three. That’s it.

Insurance adjusters love this:

1. Wide shot of the room
2. Close-up of the water source
3. Photo of any item or area that got wet

These will help you later if you file a claim.

Minute 6–7: Move What You Can — NOT What You Can’t

Move immediately:

• toys
• kids’ clothing
• blankets
• stuffed animals
• backpacks
• small furniture
• cardboard boxes

DON’T move:

• heavy furniture
• electronics
• anything near electrical outlets
• wet drywall
• heavy rugs
• appliances

If lifting requires two hands while your floor is wet → don’t do it.

Minute 8: Blot & Contain the Water

You are not trying to clean it up — only to stop its spread.

• Use towels to create a border
• Put a large bowl or baking sheet under active drips
• If water is coming through a ceiling, don’t poke it.
• Close doors to rooms you don’t want water to reach

This slows the damage until pros arrive.

Minute 9: Turn On Ventilation

If safe:

• Turn on bathroom fans
• Open windows slightly
• Point a fan away from the wet spot
• Don’t run the HVAC if water is near the furnace

This helps reduce humidity without spreading contamination.

Minute 10: Call a Certified Water Damage Team

Water damage moves fast — and not all “cleaning companies” are equal.

When calling, ask:

Are you IICRC Certified?

We are — Master Water Restorer #137718.

Do you handle mold prevention?

We do — including HEPA filtration, containment, and sanitation.

Do you offer 24/7 emergency service?

Yes. Nights, weekends, holidays.

Do you serve my town?

Likely yes — see list below.

What Happens When ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons Arrives

Parents tell us all the time:

“I didn’t realize how quickly you’d catch the problem.”

Here’s what our crews do immediately:

1. Identify the leak source
2. Check moisture inside walls & floors
3. Extract standing water
4. Remove wet materials
5. Set containment if mold risk is high
6. Set drying equipment
7. Protect items from further damage
8. Document everything for insurance

We work clean, fast, and family-friendly.

Why Busy Chicago Parents Choose Us

• 40+ years of local experience
• IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer — #137718
• IICRC-Certified Firm — #163465
• OSHA Registered — #17-000173615
• 2025 Inc. 5000 Honoree
• Chicago Star Award, BBB Torch Award, SB100 Award, Stevie Award
• North Shore + Lake County specialists
• Family-safe cleaning agents
• Fast response times — even at night

Chicago + North Shore + Lake County Areas We Serve

Chicago

River North, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, West Loop, Near North Side, Andersonville, Ravenswood, Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park, Edison Park, Irving Park, Avondale, Humboldt Park.

North Shore

Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview.

Lake County

Deerfield, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Mettawa, Mundelein, Long Grove, Kildeer, Northbrook, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Gurnee, Grayslake

Internal Resource Links

• Water Damage Restoration
  https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/water
• Fire Damage Restoration
  https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/fire
• Mold Remediation
  https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/mold
• Specialty Cleaning
  https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/restoration-services/residential/specialty

FAQs

FAQ #1 — Should I call my insurance company before or after calling a restoration company?

It’s almost always better to call a restoration company first, and here’s why:

• Insurance carriers require proper documentation, including moisture readings, photos, and cause-of-loss details — things they expect from a certified restoration team, not homeowners.
• If you call the insurer first, they may push you toward a “preferred vendor,” which is often chosen for cost savings — not for speed or thoroughness.
• A certified firm like ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons can stabilize the loss immediately and then guide you on whether filing a claim is even worth it.

In fact, 30–40% of water damage incidents are below deductible. We prevent unnecessary claims that stay on your record.

Bottom line:
Call us first. We’ll document the damage, help you determine if a claim makes sense, and walk you through the process so you’re not navigating insurance alone.

FAQ #2 — How quickly does water damage turn into mold in a Chicago home?

Chicago’s climate makes mold form faster than most homeowners realize.

Here’s what actually happens:

• At normal indoor temperatures, mold begins growing within 48–72 hours of water exposure.
• In basements (cooler, humid, less ventilated), growth can begin even faster — 24–36 hours.
• Chicago summers add another risk: high humidity + A/C cycles encourage microbial growth even after the “visible water” is gone.

Early mold often hides in:

• carpet padding
• drywall seams
• wall cavities
• behind baseboards
• inside furnace rooms

By the time you smell a musty odor, mold activity has already begun.

This is why fast drying and expert containment are critical — especially for households with children, asthma sufferers, or elderly family members.

FAQ #3 — Can I remove wet carpet, drywall, or flooring myself to save time?

You can, but you absolutely should not — especially in Chicago’s older homes.

Here’s why:

1. Safety Risks

Wet carpeting, drywall, and insulation may contain:

• bacteria from contaminated water
• mold spores
• mineral fibers
• rust particles
• lead dust (pre-1978 homes)

Removing them without PPE spreads contaminants through the home.

2. Hidden Moisture

You might remove visible wet material but leave:

• soaked studs
• wet sill plates
• moisture inside walls
• damp insulation

This leads to mold behind the wall — the most expensive kind to fix.

3. Insurance Problems

Self-demo can cause insurers to reduce payouts because “the scene was altered.”

Professionals use:

• moisture meters
• infrared imaging
• HEPA air filtration
• controlled demolition
• sanitizing agents

Let us handle it safely and correctly.

FAQ #4 — What should I do if water is leaking from my ceiling?

A ceiling leak is not something to poke, cut, or drain on your own.

Here’s what to do immediately:

Step 1: Stay clear of the sagging area

Ceilings can collapse unexpectedly under just a few gallons of water.

Step 2: Protect the area underneath

Move kids’ items, electronics, and valuables out of the room.

Step 3: Turn off electricity to that area (if safe)

Use the breaker — never reach toward a wet outlet or light fixture.

Step 4: Call a certified restoration team

We locate the water source, check structural integrity, safely remove saturated materials, and prevent mold before it starts.

Never attempt ceiling drainage yourself — this can turn a manageable leak into thousands in repairs.

FAQ #5 — How do I know if the water is “clean,” “gray,” or “black”?

Chicago parents often ask this because it determines risk.

Here’s the rule of thumb:

Clean Water (Category 1)

Usually from:

• supply lines
• refrigerator line
• A/C condensate
• burst pipe

Safe for limited contact, but still causes mold within 48 hours.

Gray Water (Category 2)

From:

• washing machines
• dishwashers
• shower overflows

Contains detergents and microorganisms — unsafe for kids and pets.

Black Water (Category 3)

From:

• sewage backups
• drain line failures
• stormwater
• sump pump failure during flood events

Highly contaminated. Requires full PPE, sanitation, and professional extraction.

If you’re unsure, treat it as unsafe until we inspect it.

FAQ #6 — How long should a properly handled water damage job take?

A typical Chicago-area water mitigation job follows this timeline:

• Day 1: Extraction, removal of wet materials, setup of drying equipment
• Day 2–4: Monitoring, adjusting equipment, verifying moisture readings
• Day 3–6: Drying completion (depending on materials)
• Day 5–10: Mold prevention, sanitation, clearance
• Day 7–20+: Rebuild/repairs (varies based on severity)

Basements with carpet, paneling, or insulation take slightly longer than living rooms or bathrooms.

The most important part:
Drying must be confirmed with moisture meters — not guesswork.

FAQ #7 — Do I need a plumber or a restoration company first?

It depends on what happened:

Call a plumber first when:

• A pipe is actively spraying
• A fixture is broken
• A sump pump has failed

Call restoration first when:

• Standing water is present
• Carpeting, drywall, or floors are wet
• You see ceiling bubbling
• Water came from the HVAC, dishwasher, or washing machine
• You’re unsure of the source
• You suspect the water has been sitting for more than a few hours

In most cases, parents call us first — and we bring or recommend plumbers afterward.

If you’re a parent in Chicago, Skokie, Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park, or Lake County… we can be there fast.

Chicago (773) 376-1110 - North Shore & Lake County (847) 316-9145
24/7 Emergency Water Damage Cleanup
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons