Water Damage Restoration in Marietta, GA: What to Do Now and Who to Call

What should I do in the first hour after water damage in Marietta?

Stop the water, make the area safe, take pictures, and get a restoration company started on drying. Speed matters because the EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.

1. Stop the source. For a sink, toilet or appliance, close the small valve behind it. For a burst pipe or anything you cannot isolate, close the main shutoff. In most Marietta homes there is a main valve where the water line enters the house (often in a basement, crawl space, garage or utility closet) and a second valve at the meter by the street.
2. Think about electricity before you step in. If water is near outlets, cords, appliances or the breaker panel, do not wade in. If you cannot reach the panel without standing in water, call your electric utility to cut power at the meter.
3. Document everything. Photos and video of the water, the source, and every damaged item, before you move or throw anything out. Georgia's Office of Commissioner of Insurance tells policyholders to photograph damage before making temporary repairs.
4. Move what you can. Lift furniture off wet carpet, put foil or blocks under legs, pull rugs, and get photos, papers and electronics to a dry room.
5. Call your insurer to open a claim, and call a restoration company to start extraction and drying. You can do both at once.

If water is still coming in right now, call (770) 670-4892 and press 1. We connect you with a local water damage restoration company in the Marietta area.

Who do I call to shut off water in Marietta: the city or Cobb County?

It depends on who sends your water bill. Homes inside Marietta city limits are usually on Marietta Power & Water. Most of unincorporated Cobb, plus Kennesaw, Acworth, Powder Springs and Mableton, is on the Cobb County Water System. Smyrna runs its own system.

If your own shutoff valve will not close, or water is gushing from the meter or the street side, the utility can help. These are the published numbers from each utility's own website:

Numbers checked against each utility's website in October 2026. Utilities change numbers, so check your water bill if one does not work. The utility handles their pipes and meter. Pipes on your side of the meter, and the cleanup inside your house, are the homeowner's job.

Is it safe to stay in the house with water damage?

Usually yes if the water is clean, the power in the wet area is off or nowhere near the water, and the ceiling is not sagging. Leave the affected area if there is sewage, a sagging ceiling, or water touching anything electrical.

• Electricity. The Energy Education Council's Safe Electricity program warns never to step into a flooded room if the water may be touching outlets, appliances or cords, and never to work a breaker box while standing in water.
• Sewage. Toilet overflows with waste, floor drain backups and sewer line backups can carry bacteria and viruses. The EPA says damage from sewage or other contaminated water calls for a professional with experience in contaminated water. Keep kids and pets away.
• Ceilings. A ceiling that bulges or sags is holding water and can come down. Keep people out from under it and tell the company about it on the phone.
• Gas. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 or your gas company from outside.

What does a water damage restoration company actually do?

They find where the water went, pull it out, remove what cannot be saved, dry the structure with commercial equipment, and measure moisture until it is dry. Rebuilding drywall, flooring and cabinets is a separate step that may be done by the same company or a contractor.

1. Inspection and moisture mapping

Water runs under baseboards, into wall cavities, under cabinets and through subfloors. A good technician uses moisture meters and often a thermal camera to find where it went, not just where you can see it. Ask them to show you the readings and to write down the starting moisture levels. Those numbers matter for your insurance claim.

2. Water extraction

Standing water and water held in carpet and pad come out first, with truck-mounted or portable extractors. The faster the bulk water is gone, the shorter the drying.

3. Removal of what cannot be dried

Carpet pad, wet insulation, swollen particleboard and drywall that wicked up dirty water usually come out. For clean water, carpet can sometimes be dried in place. For sewage-level water, the industry standard (IICRC S500) calls for porous materials to be removed. A common practice is a "flood cut," cutting drywall in a straight line above the wet area so the cavity behind it can dry.

4. Drying and dehumidifying

Air movers push air across wet surfaces and dehumidifiers pull the moisture out of the room. In a humid Georgia summer, dehumidification is the part that does the real work. Expect the equipment to stay for several days, and expect it to be loud.

5. Monitoring

The company should come back to take readings and adjust equipment until materials reach a normal dry level. Ask for a copy of the drying log. Insurers often want it.

6. Cleaning and rebuild

After drying comes cleaning and, where needed, antimicrobial treatment, then the rebuild: drywall, paint, trim, flooring, cabinets. Some restoration companies rebuild; some hand that off.

How do I know if the water is clean, gray or black?

Look at where it came from. Clean water comes from a supply line, faucet or rain. Gray water has some contamination, such as a washing machine or dishwasher discharge. Black water is grossly contaminated, such as sewage, a toilet with waste, or floodwater from outside.

Restoration companies use the IICRC S500 standard, which sorts water into three categories:

Water can get worse over time. Clean water that sits for a couple of days, runs through dirty materials, or starts growing microbes is treated as a higher category. That is one more reason not to wait.

How fast does mold start after water damage?

The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. After that window, the chance of mold climbs, especially in Marietta's humid months.

Mold needs moisture, food (wood, drywall paper, dust) and warmth. A wet wall cavity in a Georgia summer has all three. The EPA also recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent. A cheap hygrometer from a hardware store tells you where you stand.

If you already see mold, the EPA says an area under about 10 square feet (roughly 3 feet by 3 feet) is something most people can clean themselves with proper protection. Bigger than that, or after a lot of water damage, bring in professionals. See our page on mold after water damage.

What causes most water damage in Marietta homes?

Burst and frozen pipes, failed water heaters, appliance hoses and drain lines, roof and window leaks in storms, sewer backups, and on lower lots, surface water during heavy rain.

Frozen and burst pipes

Georgia winters are mild most days, which is part of the problem: pipes in crawl spaces, attics and outside walls are often not protected. Near Christmas 2022 a hard freeze burst thousands of pipes across metro Atlanta, and State Farm said Georgia ranked No. 1 in the nation for its paid frozen-pipe claims from August 2022 to August 2023, about $100 million. More on burst and frozen pipe water damage.

Water heaters

The Department of Energy puts the life of a standard tank water heater at roughly 10 to 15 years. When a tank fails it can empty the whole tank onto the floor and keep refilling until someone closes the cold supply valve. See water heater and appliance leaks.

Appliances and AC drain lines

Washing machine hoses, dishwasher lines, refrigerator ice-maker lines and air conditioner condensate drains all fail slowly or all at once. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends replacing washing machine hoses about every five years. AC drain lines run hard in a Marietta summer and can clog with algae and dust, backing water up around the indoor unit.

Roof, window and storm leaks

Marietta gets about 53 inches of precipitation a year, well above the U.S. average of about 38. Heavy thunderstorms find every weak flashing and missing shingle. Ceiling stains and drips are covered on our ceiling and roof leak page.

Sewer backups

A clogged or root-filled lateral (the pipe from your house to the public sewer) can push sewage up through the lowest drain in the house. In Cobb County the homeowner owns that lateral. See sewage backup cleanup.

Surface water and flash flooding

Cobb has been here before. In the September 2009 floods, six USGS stream gauges in Cobb County recorded peak flows beyond the 500-year flood level, and Sweetwater Creek near Austell rose high enough to close Interstate 20 for more than a day. Basements and crawl spaces on lower lots take the water first. See flooded basement and crawl space help.

How much does water damage restoration cost?

Nationally, HomeAdvisor reports an average of about $3,868, with most homeowners paying between about $1,383 and $6,369. Small clean-water jobs can be a few hundred dollars and large sewage losses can run past $16,000. Your price depends on the category of water, how much area got wet and how long it sat.

These are national figures from HomeAdvisor's cost guide (updated June 2026), not Marietta quotes. Only a company that has seen your house can price it. Per square foot, HomeAdvisor's figures run roughly:

What pushes the price up: sewage or floodwater, water that sat for days, finished basements, hardwood floors, water inside walls and ceilings, and mold that has already started. What keeps it down: stopping the water early, clean water, and getting drying started before materials swell.

Ask every company for a written estimate before work starts, and ask whether they bill using the same pricing software your insurer uses.

Will my homeowners insurance pay for water damage?

Usually for sudden and accidental water, like a burst pipe or a failed supply line. Usually not for slow leaks, maintenance problems, or flooding from outside, which needs separate flood insurance. Sewer backups are often excluded unless you added a water backup endorsement.

• Sudden vs gradual. State insurance regulators describe the general rule the same way: sudden leaks reported quickly are usually covered; slow leaks that went on for weeks usually are not. Frozen pipe bursts are usually covered if the home was heated.
• Flood. FEMA says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and a National Flood Insurance Program policy typically has a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect.
• Sewer and drain backup. Standard policies commonly exclude water or sewage that backs up through drains and sewers. It is usually an add-on, called water backup or sewer backup coverage. Check your declarations page.
• Mitigation is your job. The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance notes that policies might require you to make temporary repairs to protect the property from further damage, says to keep the receipts, and warns not to make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects.

Every policy is different, so read yours and ask your agent. Our article Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Georgia? goes through it step by step.

What should I tell the restoration company when I call?

Where the water came from, whether it is stopped, how long it has been wet, which rooms and floors are affected, whether it is clean water or sewage, and whether you are filing an insurance claim. Those answers decide what equipment and crew they bring.

• The source. Supply pipe, water heater, appliance, toilet, sewer drain, roof, or water from outside.
• Is it stopped? If not, say so first. They may walk you through finding the shutoff.
• How long. Minutes, hours or days. Older water is treated as more contaminated.
• Where. Which rooms, which floor, whether it went into a ceiling below, a crawl space or a finished basement.
• What got wet. Carpet, hardwood, laminate, tile, drywall, cabinets.
• Hazards. Water near the electrical panel, a sagging ceiling, sewage, visible mold, anyone in the home with breathing problems.
• Insurance. Your carrier and claim number if you already have one.

Ask them in return what the first visit will include, whether they will give you a written scope before removing anything, and how they bill.

What can I save, and what should I throw out?

Hard, non-porous items like metal, glass and solid plastic can usually be cleaned. Soft, porous items soaked by sewage or floodwater, like mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpet pad and stuffed toys, usually cannot. Photograph everything before it goes.

The EPA notes that porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. For clean water caught early, much more can be saved: rugs can often be cleaned, wood furniture can dry if it is lifted off wet floors quickly, and papers and photos can be laid flat or frozen until someone can deal with them.

Before you throw anything away, take photos showing the item and the water damage, write down what it is and roughly how old, and, where it is safe, keep it until the adjuster has seen it. The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance asks policyholders to keep damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. For sewage-soaked items that are not safe to keep, photograph them thoroughly and ask your adjuster before disposal if you can.

Electronics and appliances that sat in water should be checked by a qualified person before you plug them back in.

Do I need a permit for water damage repairs in Marietta?

Drying and cleanup usually do not, but much of the repair work does. The City of Marietta requires a permit to repair or alter a structure or to install or alter plumbing, electrical, gas or mechanical systems, and it lists water heater replacement as an example.

Inside city limits, Marietta also says homeowners cannot pull mechanical, electrical or plumbing permits themselves; the licensed professional must apply. So if your loss needs a new water heater, rewiring of wet circuits, or a re-pipe, the plumber or electrician handles the permit. Outside city limits, Cobb County or your own city (Kennesaw, Smyrna, Acworth, Powder Springs) sets the rules, so ask the contractor which office they are pulling the permit from.

How do I choose a water damage restoration company in Marietta?

Pick a company that will put the scope and price in writing, explain the moisture readings, and work with your insurance claim. Ask a few direct questions on the phone before anyone starts tearing out drywall.

• Do your technicians hold IICRC water damage training, and will you follow the IICRC S500 standard?
• Can I see your Georgia business registration, liability insurance and, for any plumbing or electrical work, the trade license?
• Will you give me a written estimate or scope before work starts?
• Will you take and share moisture readings and photos each visit, and give me the drying log?
• Do you bill my insurance company directly, and what do I owe if the claim is denied?
• Do you do the rebuild, or only the drying? Who handles permits?
• What exactly am I signing? Read any "assignment of benefits" or direction-to-pay form before you sign, and ask your insurer about it.

Be cautious with anyone who pressures you to sign on the spot, asks for a large cash payment up front, or tells you that you do not need to contact your insurer.

Can I dry out water damage myself?

For a small amount of clean water caught right away, often yes. For water inside walls or ceilings, under floors, any sewage, or anything bigger than a room, professional drying equipment and moisture meters are worth it, because hidden moisture is what turns into mold.

A practical line: if you can wipe it up, the carpet pad stayed dry, and the drywall is not soft or stained, fans and a dehumidifier may be enough. Check again in a few days. If the baseboards are swelling, the floor is cupping, paint is bubbling, or the room smells musty, the water went further than you can see.

What happens when you call this number?

You talk to a person at a local water damage restoration company. Marietta Water Damage Help is a free referral service: we connect you with an independent local company, and that company gives you its own estimate and does the work.

When you call (770) 670-4892 you will hear a short menu. Press 1 if water damage is happening right now. Be ready to say where the water came from, which rooms are wet, whether it is clean or sewage, and whether the source is stopped. You decide whether to hire them. Read more on how this service works.

Which areas around Marietta do you cover?

Marietta and the Cobb County communities around it, including East Cobb, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Acworth and Powder Springs.

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