Water Mitigation SOP Example

Category 2 Water Loss — Appliance Failure

Washing machine supply line failure affecting kitchen and dining room, 320 sq ft of LVP, drywall wet to 24 inches.

1. Source confirmation & safety checkConfirm water source has been shut off at supply valve or main. Verify no standing water exceeding 2" (OSHA threshold for PPE upgrade). Don nitrile gloves and N95 minimum for Category 2 source. Photograph source, affected rooms, and all visible damage before any disturbance. Note loss age (4 days) in project documentation — Category 2 materials over 72 hours are treated as elevated contamination risk.
2. Moisture mapping & documentationScan all walls with pin meter at 12" intervals from floor to ceiling — record highest reading per location on moisture map diagram. Use non-invasive (pinless) meter on LVP flooring across entire 320 sq ft zone. Check cabinet interiors, toe kick cavities, and adjacent walls in dining room. Photograph all meter readings with timestamp. Establish baseline moisture readings in unaffected rooms for comparison. Provide moisture map to adjuster within 24 hours.
3. Demo & materials removalRemove and bag all saturated LVP flooring and underlayment from the full 320 sq ft affected zone. Cut drywall at 24" above highest moisture reading line in kitchen — make cuts at studs to allow proper reinstallation. Remove and dispose of all saturated cabinet toe kicks. Weigh and log all removed materials for claim documentation. Photograph all demo areas before and after removal. Bag all waste in labeled 6-mil poly bags.
4. Structural drying equipment setupDeploy air movers at ratio of 1 unit per 50–100 sq ft of affected floor area (minimum 4 units). Place LGR dehumidifier sized for total affected volume — calculate cubic footage and confirm capacity. Position air movers to create air circulation pattern across all wet surfaces, including wall cavities where drywall was removed. Set all equipment to continuous operation. Photograph equipment placement with unit serial numbers visible. Record start readings.
5. Daily monitoring protocolCheck and document all moisture readings every 24 hours at the same mapped locations. Adjust air mover positions as materials dry and air circulation patterns shift. Verify dehumidifier is draining properly — check drain hose or empty collection bucket. Log ambient temperature and relative humidity (target: temp above 70°F, RH below 50%). Photograph updated readings daily and include in monitoring report.
6. Drying goal verification & clearanceDrying is complete when all affected materials reach baseline readings or manufacturer's acceptable moisture content standards — typically wood framing below 15% MC, concrete below 4% RH. All readings must match unaffected areas for two consecutive daily checks. Document final readings on moisture map. Issue written drying clearance report with all monitoring logs attached. Provide clearance documentation to property owner, adjuster, and restoration contractor before any reconstruction begins.