Key facts: First hours after a leak or flood
- The EPA window of 24 to 48 hours for drying wet materials applies to First hours after a leak or flood too. [1]
- First hours after a leak or flood: report leaks at the meter box or street to Gwinnett dispatch: 678.376.7000. [2]
- Leaks between the meter and the house are the owner's to fix, and the county directs owners to a plumber. [2]
Short answer
What matters in the first hour
Make the house safe, stop the water, record what happened, and then begin removing water. Safety comes first, and everything else follows from how quickly drying gets started. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold, which sets the pace for the rest of the day. [1]
The order matters more than the speed of any one step. Someone who rushes to mop before closing the main ends up mopping for an hour, and someone who starts moving furniture before checking the panel may walk through a live circuit. Work through the checklist below in order and skip nothing that applies to your house.
At a glance
Match the situation to the immediate move
| What you see | Usually means | Do this now |
|---|---|---|
| Water running from a wall or ceiling | Supply line has failed | Close the main, open a low faucet to drain the line |
| Water at the meter box or the road | Public side or service line | Call Gwinnett dispatch, 678.376.7000 [2] |
| Dark, foul water at a floor drain or tub | Sewer blockage | Stop using water, stay out, call county dispatch |
| Water coming in along a lower wall in rain | Runoff or seepage | Move belongings up; wait for the rain to ease before judging |
| Sagging, bulging ceiling | Water pooled above | Keep out from under it; do not poke it |
The checklist
Eight moves for the first hour
- 1
Get people and pets clear
Anyone who is not needed goes outside or upstairs. Keep children away from wet floors and from anything that may be contaminated.
- 2
Deal with electricity from a dry spot
If you can get to the breaker panel without crossing water, shut off the circuits for the wet area. If you cannot, leave it, stay out and call the power company.
- 3
Close the water
Most Gwinnett homes have a shutoff where the line enters the house. Your side of the system runs from the meter to the house, and repairs on it are yours to arrange. [2]
- 4
Take photos before moving things
Photograph rooms, the source of the leak, damaged belongings and any water line on the wall. Your insurer will want them, and they cannot be retaken later.
- 5
Call your insurer
Report the claim early and ask what approvals they need before work starts. Note the claim number and the name of whoever you speak with.
- 6
Lift what can be moved
Raise furniture onto blocks or foil, take rugs up, and move papers and photographs to a dry room.
- 7
Remove surface water if safe
For clean water only, use towels, mops or a wet vacuum rated for water. Sewage and floodwater are a different job.
- 8
Get air moving and call for help
Open windows only if the air outside is drier than inside, which in Georgia summer often it is not. Run air conditioning if the system is unaffected.
Water types
Why the source changes everything
Clean water from a supply line can be handled by a careful homeowner if the amount is small. Water from a dishwasher, washing machine or toilet with no solid waste carries more risk and deteriorates quickly. Sewage and outside floodwater should be assumed to be contaminated from the start. The EPA's flood guidance treats mold and contaminated materials as a health matter, and it advises thorough cleanup or removal of soaked porous items. [3]
Time changes the category as well. Clean water that sits in a warm house for a couple of days does not stay clean. That is one more reason to get drying started early, and to tell any contractor exactly when the leak began.
What to avoid
Common first-day mistakes
- Walking through standing water in a dark roomYou cannot see what is live or what has dropped into the water.
- Using a household vacuumIt is not built for water and creates a real shock risk.
- Turning on ceiling lights below a wet ceilingWater follows wiring and fixtures. Leave those switches alone.
- Painting over or sealing wet surfacesA sealed wet wall simply hides the moisture and lets it stay.
- Throwing out damaged items before they are recordedAn adjuster may need to see or at least have photographs of them.
Weather and season
What a Georgia day changes about the first hours
In Norcross summers, opening every window is often the wrong instinct, because outdoor air can carry more moisture than indoor air and the house takes it on. If the air conditioning still works and the air handler has not been wet, it is usually the better tool. In a winter freeze, the priority flips: once the main is closed, keep heat in the house so that other lines do not fail as well. Ready.gov's winter guidance recommends keeping pipes from freezing in the first place. [4]
If you rent
Renters in apartments and rented homes
Tell the landlord or property manager straight away, by phone first and then in writing, so that there is a dated record. Georgia law places a duty on landlords to keep premises in repair. [5] Your own belongings are generally a matter for your renters policy if you have one. Photograph those belongings before anything is moved.
Who does what
When a professional is the right call
If water has reached a wall cavity, a ceiling or an entire floor, or if you can smell sewage or mold, household tools will not finish the job. Professional drying relies on meters, extraction equipment, air movers and dehumidifiers, which are explained on the structural drying service page. A plumber fixes the source, a restoration contractor handles the water and drying, and an adjuster handles the claim. These are three separate jobs, even when one company offers more than one of them.
Prepare for the call
What to tell a contractor
- Where the water came from, and when it started or was first seen.
- Which rooms and floors it reached, and whether it went below the floor.
- Whether the source is fixed and the water is off.
- What the water looked and smelled like.
- Whether the house was built before 1978, because that affects how older paint is disturbed. [6]
- Your insurer's instructions, if you have already spoken with them.
Questions
First-hour questions from Gwinnett homeowners
Should I turn off the water at the meter or at the house?
Use the valve at the house first, because it is meant for owners. Gwinnett County publishes guidance on turning off the water meter, and its dispatch line helps with problems at the meter box. Keep a wrench and a note of the location handy for next time. [2]
Can I stay in the house tonight?
If the power is safe, the water is clean and the affected area is limited, many people stay. Leave if there is sewage, a sagging ceiling, a smell of gas, or no safe way to use electricity. If in doubt, sleep elsewhere for the first night.
Do I need to run the air conditioning?
Usually yes in warm months, as long as the unit, ductwork and air handler stayed dry. Cooling also pulls moisture from the air. Turn it off and have it checked if water reached the system or if there is any sign of sewage.
Should I wait for the adjuster before starting?
Usually no. Most policies expect you to prevent further damage, so document everything and begin drying. Ask your insurer on the first call what approval they need. Hold on to damaged materials or photograph them if they have to go.
Is it safe to use a wet vacuum on carpet?
For small amounts of clean water, generally yes, if the vacuum is rated for wet use and plugged into a protected outlet far away from standing water. Never use one on sewage or floodwater, and never run a cord through water.
Sources and citations
- [1]U.S. EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home
- [2]Gwinnett County Water Resources: Report a problem
- [3]U.S. EPA: Flood cleanup and indoor air quality
- [4]Ready.gov: Winter weather
- [5]Justia: O.C.G.A. section 44-7-13, landlord duty to repair
- [6]U.S. EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program