Water damage questions, answered plainly
Most questions come down to four things: what to do in the first few minutes, how long drying takes, what it costs and whether insurance helps. Short version: close the main, stay clear of wet outlets, call, and approve the emergency-stage price before work. Drying often takes several days, and your insurer decides coverage.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Sewer backups, creek floods, burst pipes
- Estimate approved before work
- Moisture readings documented
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
First steps and safety
Where is the main shut-off in a typical Atlanta house?
In older intown houses it is often near the front foundation wall, in a meter box at the curb side of the yard, or reached through the crawl-space door. Newer houses may have it in a garage or utility closet. Find yours on a dry day and check that it turns, because a seized valve is no use at midnight.
Is it safe to walk into a flooded basement?
Not when water touches outlets, cords, a furnace or a powered water heater. Cut power at the panel only if you can reach it without stepping in water. If you cannot, stay upstairs and say so on the call. Sewage or creek water calls for boots and gloves at the least.
Should I start pulling up wet carpet myself?
Better not. Wet carpet tears at the seams and can often be dried in place once the pad is removed. Lifting it also hides where the water traveled. Move furniture, take photos and wait for the readings before anything is thrown away.
Sewage, creeks and storms
Why did sewage come up my floor drain during a storm?
When heavy rain overloads a sewer main, the nearest low opening can become the relief point. Older parts of Atlanta have combined pipes, and roots can also block a lateral. The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management can say what serves your street.
Is creek flood water treated differently from a burst pipe?
Yes. Water that has crossed the ground carries soil, bacteria and chemicals, which makes it Category 3. Porous materials such as carpet, pad and insulation generally come out, and surfaces are disinfected. A burst supply line is clean water at first and can often be dried in place.
What do I do if a tree comes down on the roof?
Get everyone out from under the damaged area, stay away from any downed line, and call. The crew can tarp the opening and begin drying the ceiling and insulation, and a roofer does the permanent repair. Photograph the limb, the roof and the interior before anything is moved.
Drying, mold and rebuilding
How long does structural drying take?
Often three to five days for clean water in one or two rooms, longer for hardwood, plaster or a saturated crawl space. Readings on each visit decide when equipment leaves. Georgia's humid summers slow drying, so expect dehumidifiers to do most of the work.
Does Georgia license mold remediation?
No. Georgia does not license mold inspectors or remediators the way some states do, so there is no state licence to check. Ask which standard the company follows, such as IICRC S520, and whether it will document the work with readings and photographs.
Who does the repairs after the drying is done?
Drywall, flooring and cabinets are quoted separately after the structure is dry. In Georgia, a residential contractor licence is generally required for residential work valued at $2,500 or more, so ask who is doing the rebuild and look up their licence on the Secretary of State site.
Money and insurance
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Georgia?
A standard policy generally covers sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, but not flood or sewer backup unless an endorsement was added. Long-term leaks are commonly excluded. Read your policy and ask your agent before you assume anything.
What does flood insurance require?
A separate policy, federally backed through the National Flood Insurance Program or offered by a private insurer, bought through an agent. NFIP policies generally carry a 30-day waiting period and limited basement coverage, so it must be in place well before a storm.
Who can I ask about a claim dispute?
The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire has a Consumer Services Division, reachable at 404-656-2070 or toll-free at 1-800-656-2298. The crew provides photos and moisture readings that you can share with your insurer.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.