Emergency Help: What to Do Right Now
Step-by-step first moves for the problems that can't wait — what to shut off, what's unsafe, and what the likely cause is before a pro arrives.
What to Do After an Unattended Death at Home
If you have found someone who died at home and was not discovered right away, call 911 first. Police and the county medical examiner or coroner decide whether the death needs investigation, and nothing in the room should be moved until they release the scene.
See the first steps →Decomposition Smell in the House: What It Means and What to Do
A heavy, sweet, rotten smell that gets stronger near one room or wall usually means something has died: most often a rodent or other animal in a wall or crawl space, sometimes a person who lived alone.
See the first steps →Sewage Backup in the House: First Steps and When It Is a Biohazard
Water that came from a toilet, floor drain or sewer line carries bacteria and viruses, and EPA guidance treats anything soaked by it as contaminated. Drywall, carpet and insulation it reached generally have to be removed, not just dried.
See the first steps →Blood at Home After an Injury: What You Can and Should Not Clean
Blood can carry hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, which is why OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires protective equipment and training for workers who clean it up.
See the first steps →Need a pro now?
Send the short form — emergency requests get priority routing.