What to Do After Flooding in Your Melbourne Home

Emergency flood response available 24/7 — Call 0448 888 165 now

Whether it is a burst pipe in the kitchen, a hot water system failure, storm water entering through a doorway, or a sewage backup, flooding in your home is overwhelming. The damage happens fast, and the decisions you make in the first few hours have a direct impact on how much can be saved and how quickly your home can be restored.

Melbourne is no stranger to flooding events. Heavy downpours during storm season, ageing plumbing in older suburbs like Northcote, Coburg, and Footscray, and overflowing creeks in areas like Maribyrnong and Elwood have all caused significant flood damage to homes in recent years. Knowing what to do — and what not to do — can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of disruption.

Immediate Steps: The First 30 Minutes

Your first priority is always safety. Floodwater can hide electrical hazards, structural damage, and contamination that are not immediately obvious.

1. Do not walk through standing water if the power is still on. Water conducts electricity. If your switchboard is accessible without walking through water, turn off the mains. If it is not safe to reach the switchboard, stay out and call your electricity provider or an electrician
2. Identify and stop the water source if possible. For burst pipes, turn off the mains water supply (usually at the meter near your front boundary). For a hot water system failure, close the isolation valve on the unit. For storm water entry, there may be nothing you can do until the rain stops
3. Move to higher ground within the house. If water is still rising, get yourself, your family, and your pets to an upper level or outside the property
4. Call for help. Contact a professional flood restoration team as soon as it is safe to do so. The sooner water extraction begins, the less damage will occur
5. Document everything. Before you start moving or cleaning anything, take photos and video of the water level, affected rooms, damaged items, and the water source if visible. This documentation is critical for insurance claims

What to Save and What to Discard

Not everything that gets wet needs to be thrown away, but some items cannot be safely restored. Here is a general guide:

Items That Can Usually Be Saved

• Hard furniture — timber tables, chairs, and bookshelves can often be dried, cleaned, and restored if attended to quickly
• Carpet — if the flooding is from clean water (burst pipe, rainwater) and extraction begins within 24-48 hours, carpet can often be saved. It must be lifted, cleaned, sanitised, and dried with professional equipment
• Hard floors — tile, vinyl, and sealed concrete floors are generally recoverable with proper drying. Timber floors are more vulnerable but can sometimes be saved if dried slowly and evenly
• Clothing and fabrics — machine-washable items can usually be laundered and saved. Dry cleaning items may need specialist treatment
• Photos and documents — carefully separate wet photos and lay them flat to air dry. Place wet documents between sheets of absorbent paper

Items That Usually Need Replacing

• Mattresses and pillows — these absorb water deeply and are very difficult to dry thoroughly. They become a mould risk
• Chipboard and MDF furniture — these materials swell and disintegrate when saturated. They cannot be restored
• Upholstered furniture — if contaminated water (sewage, grey water) has soaked into upholstery, it is usually not worth restoring
• Carpet underlay — foam underlay absorbs enormous amounts of water and is difficult to dry. It is almost always replaced
• Plasterboard (below water line) — wet plasterboard wicks moisture upward, creating hidden damp that leads to mould. Affected sections are usually cut out and replaced
• Electrical appliances — any appliance that was submerged must be inspected by a qualified electrician before use

The Professional Flood Restoration Process

A professional flood and water damage restoration follows a structured process designed to extract water, dry the structure, and prevent secondary damage:

1. Assessment — the restoration team inspects the property using moisture meters and thermal imaging to map the full extent of water penetration, including behind walls and under floors
2. Water extraction — industrial pumps and truck-mounted extractors remove standing water as quickly as possible. Every hour of delay increases damage
3. Content removal — wet furniture, rugs, and belongings are moved out of affected areas. Salvageable items are set aside for cleaning and drying
4. Carpet lifting — wet carpet is lifted from the tack strip, underlay is removed (usually discarded), and the carpet is cleaned and sanitised
5. Structural drying — commercial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers are set up to dry walls, floors, and cavities. This typically takes 3-5 days depending on the severity
6. Antimicrobial treatment — affected areas are treated with professional-grade antimicrobial solutions to prevent mould and bacterial growth
7. Monitoring — daily moisture readings are taken to track drying progress. Equipment is adjusted or repositioned as needed
8. Restoration — once everything is dry, damaged plasterboard, skirting, and other materials are repaired or replaced

If you do not have access to professional drying equipment, flood equipment rental is available for Melbourne homeowners who want to start the drying process immediately. Our sister company Total Flood Damage Melbourne also provides specialist flood restoration services.

The Mould Timeline: Why 24-48 Hours Matters

Mould is the biggest secondary risk after flooding. In Melbourne’s climate, mould spores can begin colonising damp surfaces within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure. Once mould establishes itself, remediation becomes significantly more complex and expensive.

This is why speed matters. The difference between calling a restoration team on the day of the flood versus waiting a few days can be the difference between drying and restoring what you have versus tearing out walls and replacing carpet.

Signs of mould growth to watch for in the days and weeks after flooding:

• Musty or earthy odour in affected rooms
• Visible dark spots or discolouration on walls, ceilings, or skirting boards
• Peeling or bubbling paint
• Warped or buckled timber flooring
• Increased allergy symptoms (sneezing, itchy eyes, respiratory irritation)

If you notice any of these signs, do not attempt to clean mould yourself without proper protective equipment. Disturbing mould colonies releases spores into the air, which can worsen the problem and pose health risks.

Insurance Claims: Tips for Melbourne Homeowners

Dealing with insurance after a flood is stressful, but taking the right steps early makes the process smoother:

• Notify your insurer as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt notification. Call your insurer on the day of the flood, even if you do not yet know the full extent of the damage
• Document everything before you clean up. Photos, videos, and written notes of what was damaged and the water level are critical evidence
• Keep damaged items. Do not throw anything away until your insurer or assessor has seen it, unless it poses an immediate health risk (such as sewage-contaminated materials)
• Keep receipts. Any emergency spending — accommodation, cleaning, equipment hire, food — should be documented with receipts
• Get a professional assessment. A written report from your restoration company detailing the damage, the restoration process, and associated costs supports your claim
• Understand your policy. Not all flood types are covered equally. Storm damage, burst pipes, and sewage backup may have different coverage levels. Overland flooding (river or creek overflow) is excluded from some policies — check your Product Disclosure Statement

Melbourne-Specific Flood Risks

Certain parts of Melbourne are more susceptible to flooding than others:

• Maribyrnong and Essendon — the Maribyrnong River floodplain has a history of significant flooding events
• Elwood and St Kilda — low-lying areas near the coast can experience flash flooding during heavy rain
• Older inner suburbs — ageing plumbing in suburbs like Northcote, Coburg, Footscray, and Fitzroy means burst pipes and hot water system failures are common causes of internal flooding
• New estates — developing areas in Melbourne’s west and south-east can experience drainage issues during heavy rain as infrastructure catches up with housing development

Regardless of where you live in Melbourne, having a plan for what to do when flooding occurs will help you respond quickly and minimise damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can wet carpet be saved after flooding in Melbourne?

In many cases, yes — provided the water source was clean (such as a burst pipe or rainwater) and professional extraction and drying begins within 24-48 hours. The carpet is lifted, the saturated underlay is removed and replaced, and the carpet itself is cleaned, sanitised, and dried using commercial-grade equipment. Carpet contaminated by sewage or grey water is generally not worth saving due to health risks.

How long does it take to dry out a house after flooding?

With professional drying equipment (commercial dehumidifiers and air movers), most residential flood restorations take 3 to 5 days to reach safe moisture levels. Larger properties, concrete slab floors, or situations where water has penetrated wall cavities may take longer. Daily moisture monitoring ensures the drying process is tracked and equipment is adjusted as needed.

Should I try to clean up flood water myself before professionals arrive?

You can safely remove surface water with towels and a mop if the power has been turned off and the water is from a clean source. However, do not attempt to use a household vacuum to extract water — this is dangerous and ineffective. The most important thing you can do before professionals arrive is turn off the water source, turn off electricity, document the damage with photos, and open windows for ventilation if conditions allow. Leave the heavy extraction and structural drying to professionals with the right equipment.