Got standing water in your laundry room? Learn the causes, risks, and the best steps to clean it up and prevent serious damage. Total Home Water Restoration serves Grove City and nearby areas.

How to Handle Standing Water in Your Laundry Room

Appliance Leak & Overflow Cleanup
January 12, 2026•3 min read

If you’ve walked into your laundry room and found standing water, you’re not alone—and you need to act fast. At Total Home Water Restoration, we’ve cleaned up enough flooded laundry rooms to know this: the longer you wait, the worse the damage gets.

Here’s how to handle it step by step.

First, Don’t Panic—But Don’t Wait

Standing water in your laundry room usually means one of a few things:

  • A washing machine overflow or drain hose leak

  • A burst or leaking supply line

  • A clogged or failed floor drain

  • A backed-up utility sink

Whatever the cause, standing water can seep under vinyl, tile, or wood floors, soak into drywall, and lead to mold within 24–48 hours. That’s why you’ve got to move quickly.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Next

1. Shut off the water.
If it’s a supply line, turn off the valve behind your washer. If that doesn’t stop the flow, shut off your home’s main water line.

2. Kill the power if needed.
If water is near any outlets or appliances, shut off the power at the breaker before stepping in. Safety first.

3. Stop the source.
Check for a loose drain hose, cracked washer boot, or broken shutoff valve. If you can fix it temporarily, do it. Take pictures for your insurance.

4. Call for professional help.
We’re based in Grove City and can be on site fast. Call Total Home Water Restoration at 380-246-1837.

5. Remove the water.
We use high-powered pumps and vacuums to remove standing water fast. If you’re trying on your own, use a wet/dry vac—never a standard household vacuum.

6. Start drying.
Use fans and dehumidifiers, but know this: surface drying isn’t enough. If water got into the walls or subfloor, you need moisture meters and thermal cameras to check behind the scenes.

Why Professional Help Matters

Water in your laundry room doesn’t just mean wet clothes. It can mean:

  • Mold growth behind walls (especially around floor drains and laundry sinks)

  • Warped subfloors under tile or vinyl

  • Electrical hazards

  • Insurance claim issues if not documented and mitigated properly

At Total Home Water Restoration, we follow the IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration. That means moisture mapping, proper containment, thorough drying, and documentation you’ll need for insurance.

Common Fixes We See Around Columbus Homes

In Grove City, Hilliard, and Westerville, we’ve repaired:

  • Flooded laundry rooms from broken washer valves (pro tip: use braided steel hoses, not rubber)

  • Water-damaged vinyl plank flooring that hid mold underneath

  • Finished basements where the laundry area backed up due to a clogged main drain

If it happened to your neighbor, it can happen to you.

How to Prevent It Next Time

  • Replace rubber hoses with braided stainless steel.

  • Make sure your washer is level—rocking during spin cycles can cause hose wear.

  • Clean your utility sink trap and floor drain at least once a year.

  • Install a water alarm near the washer or a smart leak detector that notifies your phone.

Need Help Now?

We’re here for homeowners across Grove City, Columbus, and surrounding areas. We treat your home like it’s our own. From water extraction to drywall replacement, we’ve got you covered.

📍 Total Home Water Restoration
4141 Hoover Rd, Grove City, OH 43123
📞 Call: 380-246-1837

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