Can the plumber also do the water damage cleanup?

Some firms may offer both, but Portland, Oregon, describes cleaning and restoration as work done by companies that specialize in it. Ask directly whether the plumber's firm does this work itself or passes it on, who is on the contract, and who answers if a room stays wet.

How long can wet drywall wait for the cleanup company?

EPA's guidance is that materials dried within 24-48 hours after a leak or spill will, in most cases, not grow mold. That is a reason to call early. Ask how soon a crew can start, and if the first firm cannot meet that window, call another.

Does the insurance company need a call before the cleanup crew arrives?

Call as soon as the water is stopped, and do not delay drying while you wait to be called back. For Texas homeowners, the state's guide limits repairs to temporary ones until the insurer sees the damage. Elsewhere, ask. Insurer or plumber first covers this.

Right now / Plumber first or Cleanup company first

Plumber first or water cleanup company first?

For water damage, plumber or restoration depends on the source. Close the main if you can reach it dry and smell no gas. Leak not fixed? Plumber first. Source stopped and materials wet? Call cleanup too, the same day.

Updated November 4, 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of this page.

Find your line

If you do not yet know where the water came fromPlumber firstDrying a space while the source still leaks wastes the money you spend on drying.
If the main is off, the source is known and floors or walls are soakedCleanup company firstEPA says drying within 24-48 hours usually stops mold growing, so start that clock.
If the plumber is already booked and materials are wetCleanup company firstDo not hold one call for the other. Run them in parallel.
If the water is sewage or came in as a floodPlumber firstStay out and avoid contact. Sewage has its own order of calls.

Dark basement with water covering the floor — A flooded basement. Stay out of water like this until you know the power is safe.

What does each company actually do for you?

	Plumber first	Cleanup company first
Main job	Finds and repairs the source	Dries and cleans the affected rooms
Trade	Licensing varies by state	Separate specialty, per Portland, Oregon
Clock	Water running: now	Wet materials: within 24-48 hours
2023 survey cost	$150 to $450 for leak repair	$1,000 to $5,000 for restoration
Paperwork for insurer	Written cause and receipt	Written scope and receipt
Stops the next leak?	Yes, if the repair holds	No

Sources for this table: EPA mold guide, Portland Environmental Services, Bob Vila, 2023

What would flip the order?

The leak is a pipe still under pressure with the main failing to close it. Stay with the plumber and the utility.
Water has reached anything electrical. Neither call comes first: stay out and contact the power company or 911 from a dry place.
It is a one-time overflow, and nothing needs repair. A cleanup call may be the only one.
Your insurer has told you to use a particular process. Read insurer or plumber first before signing anything.
The wet area is small and dries out fast. Ask whether a full restoration visit is needed.

What do these two calls cost?

For costs, this site has one dated source: a national 2023 summary on Bob Vila, updated in June of that year and built on HomeAdvisor numbers. Treat it as a rough guide, since it may be out of date and prices vary locally. It puts a leak repair at $150 to $450, and restoration after water damage at $1,000 to $5,000.

No dated figure was found for drying alone or by room or square foot. To get a real number, ask each cleanup firm for a written scope listing what it will remove, dry and check, and then compare those scopes. The FTC's general advice applies here too: keep back part of the price at the start, and hold the last payment until the job is finished to your satisfaction.

Keep every receipt. If insurance is involved, the paperwork from both firms may matter, and the Texas insurance department's guide tells homeowners there to keep receipts for repair materials.

Empty room with stripped floors and walls — A room stripped back to bare walls.

Who answers for each part of the job?

Keep the two responsibilities separate. The plumber answers for the source, and that trade has its own rules by state. Washington requires a licensed plumbing contractor, Illinois has its public health department license plumbers and register contractors, and Colorado's board handles plumbers there. Your state may differ, and state rules lists what could be confirmed.

This site found no state rule on licensing cleanup firms, so do not assume one. Ask for the firm's legal name, proof of insurance and a written contract with no blanks. The FTC treats a refusal to show those as a warning sign. It also says an insurance check should not be signed over to the contractor. If someone is pressing you to sign tonight, read who to hire under pressure.

Words to use

"The source is stopped. Can you put in writing what caused it, so the cleanup firm and insurer can see it?"

"Please send a written scope listing what will be removed and dried before anything is torn out."

"How will you show that the materials are dry before you leave the job?"

"Who is your insurer, and can you send proof of coverage before starting?"

Also asked

Can the plumber also do the water damage cleanup?: Some firms may offer both, but Portland, Oregon, describes cleaning and restoration as work done by companies that specialize in it. Ask directly whether the plumber's firm does this work itself or passes it on, who is on the contract, and who answers if a room stays wet.
How long can wet drywall wait for the cleanup company?: EPA's guidance is that materials dried within 24-48 hours after a leak or spill will, in most cases, not grow mold. That is a reason to call early. Ask how soon a crew can start, and if the first firm cannot meet that window, call another.
Does the insurance company need a call before the cleanup crew arrives?: Call as soon as the water is stopped, and do not delay drying while you wait to be called back. For Texas homeowners, the state's guide limits repairs to temporary ones until the insurer sees the damage. Elsewhere, ask. Insurer or plumber first covers this.

Next decision in right nowSewage coming up: plumber or the city first?

Sources

EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home drying wet materials within 24-48 hours
Portland Environmental Services: sewer backups Restoration firms are a separate specialty
Bob Vila: How Much Does a Plumber Cost? Leak repair and restoration ranges from June 2023
FTC: Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies Contract red flags, signing over insurance checks
FTC: How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam When to pay, and when to hold back
Texas Department of Insurance: home insurance guide Temporary repairs and keeping receipts in Texas
Illinois Department of Public Health: plumbing Illinois plumber licensing and contractor registration
Washington Labor & Industries: licensed plumbing contractor Licensing for firms doing plumbing there