FAQ
Questions and answers
Short answers to the questions people ask most, with links to the longer guides.
What is ATL Water Damage?
A phone referral service. Calls to the number on this site are connected with independent restoration contractors that work in Atlanta and nearby cities. The site itself has no crews and does no restoration work.
Who pays for the referral?
Contractors, directly or through a referral network, may pay a fee for calls they receive. That arrangement is described in the referral disclosure. You pay only the contractor, and only for work you agree to.
Which contractor will I reach?
An independent restoration company that serves the area you are calling about. This site does not list or rank contractors, and it does not name the company before the call.
How fast should drying start?
As soon as the source is stopped. According to the EPA, getting water-damaged areas and belongings dry within 24 to 48 hours helps keep mold from growing.
Does every leak need a professional?
No. A small spill on tile that you wipe up the same day rarely does. Water that soaked into carpet, drywall, a subfloor or a crawl space, sewage of any amount, and anything that has started to smell are reasons to get a contractor's moisture readings.
Do restoration contractors in Georgia need a license?
Georgia requires a residential or general contractor license for repair and remodeling jobs above a value threshold set in state law, and separate licenses for plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling work. Mold remediation has no state license. The hiring guide on this site has details and sources.
Who owns the water pipe outside my Atlanta house?
In the City of Atlanta, the water department is responsible for the line from the main to the meter and the owner for the line from the meter to the house. Other cities and counties set their own rules; see the area pages.
Will my insurance cover it?
That depends on your policy and the cause. Sudden pipe bursts are treated differently from slow leaks, floods and sewer backups. The Georgia insurance guide on this site explains the general terms; your agent can speak to your policy.
Can a contractor help with mold I found behind a cabinet?
Yes, calls about mold reach contractors who handle it. Fixing the moisture that fed it matters as much as removing the growth.
What about smoke damage from a small kitchen fire?
Calls about fire and smoke damage are also routed to restoration contractors. Soot spreads further than it looks, so ask for an assessment of rooms beyond the kitchen.
Do you serve my neighborhood?
Calls are routed for homes in the City of Atlanta and in Decatur, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, East Point, Smyrna and Dunwoody. If you are just outside those areas, call and ask.
Is there a form or chat?
No. The only way to use this service is to call. The email address is for questions about the site itself.
Guides
Longer reads
- The first 48 hoursWhat to switch off, photograph and leave alone.
- Atlanta pipes and who to callWhich lines the city maintains and which are yours.
- Flooding and floodplainsHow Atlanta floods and how to check a property.
- Georgia insurance basicsGeneral terms and the state's claim tips.
- Hiring a contractor in GeorgiaLicenses, permits and questions to ask.
Water where it should not be?
Get an Atlanta restoration contractor on the line
The sooner wet materials start drying, the less there usually is to tear out. One call puts you through to an independent contractor who can look at the damage, explain the work and give you their own price.
Speak with a restoration contractor
Your call is routed to an independent water, fire and mold restoration contractor that takes jobs in metro Atlanta. Describe the damage and ask what they would do first.
Call (678) 649-1321Calls may be recorded. How referrals work: disclosure. How call data is handled: privacy.