The leak's fixed and the floor looks fine. So are you done?
Maybe. The hard part is that you can't tell from the doorway. Water that got into a wall, a carpet pad or the subfloor can stay wet long after the surface feels dry. This page is for the question that comes next: how long do I have, and do I actually need anyone? Sometimes you don't, and this page says when.
If water is still coming in, stop reading and go to what to do in the next hour.
The clock the EPA gives you
The number you'll see everywhere comes from the EPA, and here it is in their words:
It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Source: U.S. EPA, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home"
Read that as a target, not a countdown to disaster. Nothing magic happens at hour 49, and no one can give you an exact time for your house. What's clear is that the clock runs from when things got wet, not from when you noticed, so a slow leak behind a wall may have used it up already.
Why it's harder to dry out in a Charlotte summer
Drying is really moisture moving from wet materials into the air. On a muggy Charlotte day the air is already holding plenty of water, so it takes less from your floors and walls. That's why opening the windows can feel like doing something and still not help much in July. A dehumidifier in a closed room often pulls more out. Crawl spaces are slower still, since they're damp and don't get much airflow.
The EPA suggests keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, if you can (EPA guide). A hygrometer from a hardware store will show you where you stand.
What "dry" actually means
Dry isn't how a floor feels under your hand. Wood and drywall can feel fine on the surface and still hold water inside. A restoration company measures this with a moisture meter, and often compares a wet spot against a dry part of the same house. The job's done when the numbers say so, not when the fans go quiet. If you do hire someone, ask to see the readings in writing.
Why it's worth taking seriously
No scare stories here. This is what the EPA says:
Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants.
Source: U.S. EPA, "Mold and Health"
If you have health concerns, the EPA suggests talking to a health professional before you start cleanup (EPA cleanup page).
When you can handle it yourself
Not every bit of mold needs a company. The EPA draws the line at a small patch:
If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself
EPA's cleanup page has the how-to. EPA's guide lists gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator. Either way, the EPA says to clean up the mold and fix the water problem (EPA guide). Absorbent materials like ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away if they get moldy.
You probably don't need a test either, if you can already see it:
In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary.
Source: U.S. EPA, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home"
When it's worth asking for help
The EPA points past a home cleanup in two cases. The first is size: a lot of water damage, or mold covering more than 10 square feet, sends you to its larger remediation guide (EPA cleanup page).
The second is dirty water:
If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
There's a third case, from plain common sense: you can smell it but can't find it, or the wet spot is inside a wall or under a floor you can't open.
If you hire someone, the EPA's advice is short: make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.
What not to do
Two habits make this worse. The first is painting over it. The EPA says not to paint or caulk moldy surfaces, and that paint over mold is likely to peel (EPA cleanup page).
The second is running the air system across a problem. The EPA says not to run the HVAC system if you know or suspect it's contaminated with mold.
If the wet area came from sewage, keep that system off too until a professional checks it, as plain caution.
If you want a company to look at it
The form asks what happened, your ZIP and how soon you need help. We work to pass your request to one independent local restoration company, and the referral costs you nothing. Response times depend on that company's availability, so keep drying what you safely can in the meantime. For prices, see our water damage cost guide.