The first hour
Call us first. Then stay safe until we arrive.
Our crew handles the cleanup. These are just a few safe, simple things you can do while we're on the way. If anything feels unsafe, get out and call 911.
While we're on the way
- Shut off the main water valve. It's usually where the line enters the house, in a basement, crawlspace or garage, or at the meter by the street.
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain pressure from the lines.
- Turn off breakers to wet rooms, only if the panel is somewhere dry.
- Move furniture, rugs and electronics out of the water. Put foil or plastic under furniture legs.
- Photograph the burst pipe and every wet area before cleanup.
Avoid this
- Don't use a household vacuum on water. It's an electrical hazard.
- Don't turn on ceiling lights or fans if the ceiling above is wet or sagging.
- Don't wait to see if it dries on its own. Drywall and subfloors hold water you can't see.
- Don't throw away the broken part. Your plumber and adjuster may want it.
While we're on the way
- Get everyone, including pets, away from the water.
- If water is near outlets, cords or the panel, stay out and call us or your utility.
- Move valuables, documents and medications to a higher floor.
- If the water came from outside, treat it as contaminated. Wear boots and gloves.
- Photograph the water line on walls and furniture.
Avoid this
- Don't walk through water that could be energized.
- Don't pump a flooded basement out all at once if groundwater is high. Walls can be pushed in.
- Don't keep wet upholstered furniture or mattresses touched by floodwater without asking us first.
While we're on the way
- Close the shutoff valve behind the washer, dishwasher, fridge or toilet.
- For a water heater, close the cold-water valve on top and switch off the breaker or set the gas valve to pilot.
- Unplug the appliance if you can do it without standing in water.
- Soak up what you can with towels and pull them away from the wall.
- Check the room below for drips or stains.
Avoid this
- Don't run the appliance again "to see where it's leaking."
- Don't assume the floor is fine because the top is dry. Water runs under cabinets and flooring.
- Don't drain a hot water heater yourself. The water can scald.
While we're on the way
- Stop using every sink, toilet, shower and the washer. More water makes it worse.
- Keep children and pets out of the area and close the door.
- Turn off the HVAC if it pulls air from the affected area.
- Wash your hands well after any contact.
Avoid this
- Don't clean it up with household cleaners or a shop vac. Sewage carries bacteria.
- Don't try to save carpet, pad or drywall that sewage touched.
- Don't run fans that blow air across the area into the rest of the house.
While we're on the way
- Close off the room and keep the door shut.
- Look for the water source: a leak, a sweating pipe, a wet crawlspace or a roof drip.
- Take photos of the growth and anything stained around it.
- Keep sensitive family members out of the area until it's checked.
Avoid this
- Don't scrub it dry or spray bleach on drywall. It spreads spores and doesn't reach the roots.
- Don't run fans or the HVAC through the area.
- Don't paint over it. It comes back when the moisture does.
While we're on the way
- Wait until the fire department says it's safe to go back in.
- Open windows for fresh air if the weather allows.
- Photograph every room, including smoke staining on ceilings and inside closets.
- Call your insurance company and ask about temporary housing if you need it.
Avoid this
- Don't wipe soot off walls or furniture. It smears and sets in.
- Don't turn on the HVAC. It spreads soot through the ducts.
- Don't eat food or use cosmetics that were near the heat or smoke.
While we're on the way
- Stay clear of downed power lines and report them to Georgia Power.
- If a tree hit the house, stay out of the rooms under it.
- Put buckets under drips and move belongings away from openings.
- Photograph the damage from the ground and from inside.
Avoid this
- Don't climb on the roof or try to cut a tree that's resting on the house.
- Don't sign anything with a contractor who knocks on your door after the storm.
- Don't let a ceiling bulge hold water. Call us so it can be drained safely.
Be ready before it happens
Find your main shutoff today
The single most useful thing you can do. Look where the water line enters the house: a basement wall, crawlspace, garage or utility closet. Many Atlanta homes also have a shutoff at the meter box near the street. Tag it so anyone in the house can find it.
- Test that the valve turns. Old valves seize.
- Know where your breaker panel is and which breakers run each floor.
- Save us in your phone as "Mitigate First – Water Emergency". Add the contact in one tap, or save (678) 640-3089 yourself.
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