Emergency Water Damage FAQ (24/7 Help Available)

First, try to stop the water source if it’s safe. If the water is coming from a burst pipe, shut off your main water valve immediately. If water is near electrical outlets or appliances, avoid the area and shut off power safely.

Then call a professional water damage mitigation company right away. Fast response is critical to prevent further damage and mold growth.

 Dry Pros is Available 24/7 for Emergency Response.

There are a few key steps you should take immediately after suffering water damage. This includes documenting the damage for your insurer. It’s also okay to mop up excess water, but the best choice is to call for professional help immediately. A team of experts can work quickly and thoroughly to ensure further damage is prevented. Water damage can also pose safety risks, so it’s best to let the trained professionals navigate through the dangers. 

Yes. Even small leaks can cause major damage if moisture spreads into walls, subfloors, cabinets, or insulation. Water damage is time-sensitive and should be treated as an emergency.

Water Mitigation is the emergency phase: removing water, drying the structure, and preventing further damage.

Water Restoration is the repair phase: rebuilding drywall, replacing flooring, painting, and restoring the home back to its original condition.

Mitigation should begin immediately. Restoration can begin once drying is complete.

If water is near outlets, appliances, or electrical panels, you should avoid those areas and shut off electricity safely. Water and electricity are extremely dangerous together. If you are unsure, do not risk it. Call a professional immediately.

Drying Time Can Vary Based on Many Factors:

• How much water entered the property
• What materials were affected
• Humidity levels
• Whether water entered walls and flooring

Dry Pros monitors moisture levels to confirm proper drying.

Immediately evacuate children, seniors, and pets from the affected area(s) before contacting a professional sewage cleanup company. Contact your utilities provider and have them shut off electricity, gas and the water supply to your home. If the spill is minimal and low risk, you can turn off the power and water supply yourself. Just be sure to wear the proper protective equipment and do not come into contact with contaminated water. Next, be sure to open the windows to help ventilate the area. Take several pictures as proof for your insurance claims before removing any dry uncontaminated items from affected areas.  For sewage backups and black water loss, Dry Pros offers dedicated sewage cleanup service across Metro Atlanta.

Water damage that follows a flood can be difficult to prevent, but there are some cautionary measures you can take. Consider coating your walls, foundation, windows and doorways with a waterproof sealant to prevent flood water from leaking in through the cracks. Sewage floods can be prevented by installing backflow prevention valves on your pipes to keep water from backing up into your property. Also, be sure to have regular plumbing maintenance to make sure your system is in good condition.

Avoid walking through standing water if electricity may be involved. If safe, stop water entry if possible. Then call a professional mitigation company immediately.

Basements flood quickly and can create mold risks within 24–48 hours.

Coverage depends on your policy and the cause of loss.

Many policies cover sudden and accidental water damage (like a burst pipe) but may not cover long-term leaks or poor maintenance. Dry Pros provides documentation to help support insurance claims, but coverage decisions are made by your insurance provider. We are always happy to walkthrough your policy with you.

If Standing Water is Left Untreated, it Can Lead To:

• Microbial growth
• Warped flooring
• Weakened drywall and framing
• Structural rot 
• Insulation damage
• Odor problems
• Expensive repairs

Quick response can prevent thousands of dollars in additional damage. See the full water damage statistics for Metro Atlanta for more on typical costs and timelines.

No! In fact, you shouldn’t wait to call a water damage professional as this can affect your insurance claim. Insurance policies generally require affected persons to take action in order to prevent further damage – including immediately contacting a professional water damage restoration company. 

Yes. Dry Pros provides flooded basement cleanup and drying services. Basements and crawl spaces often require aggressive water extraction and dehumidification due to limited airflow and high moisture levels.

Ceiling water damage is commonly caused by:

• Plumbing leaks from upstairs bathrooms
• Leaking HVAC drain lines
• Roof leaks
• Overflowing tubs or toilets
• Pipe failures in the attic
• Storm water intrusion

Ceiling leaks should be treated urgently because water spreads quickly through insulation and drywall.

Yes. Wet drywall, carpet, insulation, and wood can release musty odors and create conditions that support mold growth. Professional drying and air filtration can help prevent poor indoor air quality.

Mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. That’s why water extraction and drying should begin as quickly as possible. The longer moisture stays trapped in flooring, drywall, or insulation, the higher the risk of mold growth. If mold has already taken hold, Dry Pros also provides mold removal and remediation as part of the same visit.

The first step to take is to turn off your water source if it is safe to do so, then call a water damage restoration company to come cleanup the damage. The next step is to call your insurance company and submit your claim. After it’s safe, be sure to document the damage by taking photos and video. Also remove items from the affected areas so they can be protected.  

Taking swift action to mitigate water damage can help prevent mold from occurring as a result. Letting water sit for as little as 24 hours can result in mold growth. Although it isn’t always visible to the naked eye, mold can pose serious health risks to anyone who comes in contact with it. Be sure to contact the Dry Pros experts and they will quickly fix any water damage to reduce your chances of mold exposure.

It depends on the flooring type and how quickly mitigation begins.

• Hardwood can warp and swell quickly
• Laminate often separates and buckles
• Carpet may trap moisture in padding
• Tile can hide water underneath in subflooring

Fast water extraction and drying can sometimes save flooring but delays usually increase replacement costs.

Yes. Dry Pros uses professional moisture detection tools to locate hidden moisture. If water is trapped behind drywall, we may use targeted drying techniques, venting, or selective removal to ensure the structure dries properly.

Yes! Dry Pros provides 24/7 Emergency Water Damage Response across Metro Atlanta and West Georgia. If you need help right now, call immediately.

 Call Dry Pros Now: 678-379-7767

Every job is different, so exact pricing depends on how much water intruded, what materials were affected, and how long the water sat before cleanup started. Most emergency water damage jobs in Metro Atlanta run from a few hundred dollars for a small, contained leak to several thousand dollars for a larger loss involving multiple rooms or flooring replacement.

Dry Pros provides a free onsite assessment before any work begins, and we bill most major insurance carriers directly, so your out-of-pocket cost is often limited to your deductible.

Dry Pros is based in Austell and dispatches crews 24/7 across Metro Atlanta, including Marietta, Smyrna, Powder Springs, Kennesaw, Acworth, East Cobb, Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica, Fairburn, Stone Mountain, Decatur, and the surrounding Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, and Carroll County communities. For an active emergency, we aim to have a technician on site fast, not days later. See our full service area for coverage near you.

IICRC certification means our technicians are trained and tested against the same water damage restoration standards used across the industry, not just given a company badge. It covers proper moisture mapping, structural drying, and antimicrobial application, so the job gets done right the first time instead of leading to callbacks or hidden damage later.

You can review the standards yourself through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). When you hire Dry Pros, you are hiring a Metro Atlanta crew held to that standard on every job, not just the ones insurance is watching closely.