AC and appliance leaks
Turn off the appliance or the system, close its supply valve or the main, and photograph the damage. Then fix the cause: the EPA says to keep air conditioning drip pans clean and drain lines flowing,1 and Triple-I says to replace washer and dishwasher hoses every five to seven years.2
Free service. Call now and we'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works
The usual suspects
Where indoor leaks start
- 01
The attic air handler
Air conditioning makes water. Keep the drip pan clean and the drain line unobstructed and flowing properly.1 A brown ring on the ceiling under the unit is the sign to look.
- 02
Washer and dishwasher hoses
Check the hoses every year, replace any that crack or leak, and replace them all every five to seven years.2
- 03
The water heater
Triple-I includes the hoses leading to water heaters in the yearly check.2
- 04
While you are away
Shut off the washing machine's water supply, and never leave the house with the washer or dishwasher running.2
Why humidity matters here
Gainesville gets rain in every month, with no month averaging under 3.85 inches.3 The EPA's target for indoor air is below 60 percent relative humidity, ideally 30 to 50, and condensation on windows or pipes can be a sign it is too high.1
Catch leaks early
Triple-I suggests a water leak monitoring and shut-off system that alerts you to leaks.2
If it has already soaked through
Turn the water off, make the power safe and photograph it. The first-hour page has the full order.
How this works
What happens when you call
It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.
![A woman on a screened back porch talks on the phone after a summer storm, broken pine branches on the wet lawn.]()
1You call
Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.
- 2
We connect you
A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Gainesville and is taking calls.
![A technician crouches by a washing machine and shows the homeowner its supply hose, a water stain along the wall behind.]()
3They assess and quote
If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.
We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works
Want a local company to look at it?
Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Gainesville answers, and you decide what happens next.
Call (770) 536-9258Gainesville Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works
Sources
Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.
- U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. Page updated February 18, 2026. www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
- Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How to protect your home from water damage. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020, Gainesville Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (station USW00053838), precipitation. 1991-2020 normals. www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00…