Water Damage Restoration in Bartlett, TN: Start Here
Bartlett lists 901-385-5586 on weekdays for leaking meters, street water and sewer backups, and 901-385-5558 for emergencies. This guide sorts out who to call and what comes next.
Request Water Damage HelpWe dispatch a certified local crew to homes in Bartlett, TN — on site in about 60 minutes.
If Water Is Coming Into Your Bartlett Home Now
If water is getting into your Bartlett home right now, the first call depends on where it starts. Water leaking at the meter, bubbling up in the street or backing up from a drain is a report to the City of Bartlett. Water from a pipe inside the house also calls for your main shut-off valve, if you can reach it safely.
- Danger to people: for a gas odor, sparking, or a sagging ceiling, get everyone out and call 911.
- Leak at the meter, water in the street, or water or sewer backing up into the house: the city's Water/Wastewater line on weekdays, or its emergency number, 901-385-5558, outside weekday hours.
- A pipe failing inside the house: use your home's main shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. Do not force a valve you cannot operate; seek qualified help.
- Water pooling in the yard from a drainage problem: the City of Bartlett Engineering Department.
Each number, its hours and its role sit on one page. See who to call first for water problems in Bartlett before you dial.
Bartlett Numbers at a Glance
The city's own pages give three numbers that matter after a leak: 901-385-5586 for water and sewer reports, 901-385-5558 for emergencies, and 901-385-6499 for drainage in your yard. The general Public Works number, 901-385-5570, is not the water line. Weekday hours differ by office, so match the number to the job.
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| Situation | Number | Office, hours and role | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaking meter, water in the street, water or sewer backing up into a building | 901-385-5586 | Water/ | Checked: September 2026 |
| Emergency | 901-385-5558 | Listed by the city as the emergency number for both Water/ | Checked: September 2026 |
These numbers come from the city's Water/Wastewater Services page as read in September 2026. The number for yard drainage and the general Public Works hours are on the who-to-call page.
Water in the house right now? Leave your number.
The first hour after water damage in Bartlett
- Shut off the main water valve and stop the source if it is safe.
- Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker — never walk through water near outlets.
- Take photos and video of every wet area before anything is moved — your insurer will ask.
- Move furniture, rugs and electronics off wet floors; open interior doors for air flow.
- Do not use a household vacuum on standing water and do not peel back wet drywall yourself.
- Call for emergency dispatch: Call (901) 261-7414. A certified crew starts extraction and drying the same visit.
What happens when you call
- When you call. A live dispatcher takes the address and what is wet — 24/7, holidays included.
- Within minutes. We dispatch a certified local crew closest to you in Bartlett.
- ~60 minutes. The crew arrives, finds the source, and maps hidden moisture with meters and thermal cameras.
- Same visit. Water extraction starts; industrial dehumidifiers and air movers go in.
- 3–5 days. Daily moisture checks until the structure is dry; photos and readings go to your insurer.
Rivers, Creeks and the Pipes Underground
Bartlett drains toward two rivers. According to the city's 2024 Storm Water Management Program, the northern watershed flows to the Loosahatchie River and the southern watershed flows to the Wolf River. Howard, Raner, Buckhead, Oliver and Harrington creeks are also named, along with an unnamed tributary to Fletcher Creek.
- Northern watershed: the Loosahatchie River.
- Southern watershed: the Wolf River.
- Other waterways the city names: Howard Creek, Raner Creek, Buckhead Creek, Oliver Creek, Harrington Creek and an unnamed tributary to Fletcher Creek.
Water that starts outside your walls, at the meter or in the street, is a report for the city. Whether your address sits in a mapped flood zone is a separate question, and FEMA's Flood Map Service Center lets you look it up by address.
The First Steps Inside the House
Protect people first, then limit the water and record what happened. Keep everyone out of rooms where water reaches electrical equipment, the ceiling sags, gas is present or sewage is involved. Stopping the source and taking photos come after that, and only where it is safe to do them.
- If you smell gas or suspect electrocution, get out and call 911. The Red Cross advises leaving the property immediately if you smell gas or hear a hissing noise.
- Do not wade into sewage or floodwater. The Red Cross warns that floodwater may contain sewage.
- Use your home's main shut-off valve if you can reach it safely. Do not force a valve you cannot operate; seek qualified help.
- Photograph and video the damage before anything is thrown out or torn out, when it is safe. The Red Cross and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) both advise documenting damage.
- Tell your insurer promptly; TDCI advises filing as soon as possible, since a policy may set a notice time frame. Keep receipts for any temporary repairs, as the Red Cross advises.
If a pipe is the cause, the burst pipe guide for Bartlett homes covers freeze dates and claim clocks. If wet materials have been sitting, read what federal agencies say about mold timing for the exact wording.
Finding a Restoration Provider in Bartlett
This site is a referral guide, not a contractor. It helps homeowners find a local water damage restoration provider that serves their address. Before you agree to any work, ask the provider for proof of insurance and any trade license the job requires, and ask what the scope of work covers.
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| Tennessee rule | What it says | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor license | Required when acting as a prime contractor on projects costing $25,000 or more | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Checked: September 2026 |
| Home improvement license | Required in Shelby County for residential remodeling projects costing $3,000 to $24,999 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Checked: September 2026 |
Read the state's pages on the contractor license threshold before you sign a large repair contract. Ask the City of Bartlett which permits a repair needs before work begins.
- Ask the provider for proof of insurance and any trade license the job requires.
- Ask which kind of water the provider believes you have, and why.
- Ask what the scope of work covers, and what it leaves out.
- Ask how the provider will show you the moisture readings and hidden damage it finds.
Tennessee Insurance Basics After Water Damage
TDCI says standard Tennessee homeowners policies typically exclude flood damage and water damage from backed-up drains or sewers, and that frozen pipes might not be covered when the damage comes from negligence, such as not keeping the house adequately heated. Your policy wording controls. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice; ask your insurer what your own policy covers.
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| Item | What the rule says | Where it comes from | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurer decision | Within 60 days after properly completed and executed proofs of loss: acceptance, denial, or notice that more investigation is needed | TDCI rule 0780-01-05-.08(1) | Checked: September 2026 |
| Payment | The insurer is to pay within 30 days of affirming liability, if the amount is determined and not in dispute | TDCI rule 0780-01-05-.08(6) | Checked: September 2026 |
| Public adjuster fee | Fee capped at 15% of settlement proceeds if the contract precedes the insurer's offer; after an offer, capped at 25% of the increase over the insurer's last offer before the contract; special 10% cap for a total loss from a catastrophic disaster within the first 12 months of a mortgage financing 100% of the purchase price | Tennessee Code section 56-6-913 | Checked: September 2026 |
| Policy questions | 615-741-2218 or 800-342-4029 | TDCI consumer line | Checked: September 2026 |
The full text is in the state's rule 0780-01-05 PDF, and TDCI explains how to reach it on its policy question and complaint page.
If That Did Not Work
Some problems do not end with the first call. A closed office, a valve that will not turn or a claim that sits open all have another route. Ask the office about availability and what to do while you wait.
- Try again: for a water or sewer emergency, call 901-385-5558. For a nonurgent report, call 901-385-5586 during its listed weekday hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Another route: if the water starts inside your house and you cannot stop it, seek qualified help, such as a plumber, and read the burst pipe guide for Bartlett homeowners. For yard drainage, try Engineering at 901-385-6499.
- Who to contact: for wet materials that may grow mold, see the mold guide for Bartlett homes. For an insurance question that your insurer does not settle, call TDCI at 615-741-2218 or 800-342-4029. Under the state rule, the insurer has 60 days after properly completed and executed proofs of loss to accept, deny or notify you that more investigation is needed, so do not wait on that to protect the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Tennessee homeowners policy usually cover after water damage?
Is a sewer backup covered?
What should I photograph and keep before cleanup?
How do I check a restoration provider before hiring?
Is this site a restoration company?
How do providers describe different kinds of water?
Local water damage risks in Bartlett
Flood insurance claims in the county
FEMA's flood insurance program has paid 781 flood claims in the county since 1978, averaging $32,121 per claim. The heaviest year was 2010.
1970s and 1980s Housing Boom
Bartlett grew from about 1,150 people in 1970 to 17,170 in 1980, and many streets in ZIP 38134 date from that era. Homes built around 1979 now have aging shutoff valves, drain lines and pipes.
Two-Story Homes With Attic HVAC
Newer Bartlett subdivisions in 38133 and 38135 (median home built 1993) feature upstairs bathrooms, laundry rooms and attic HVAC units. A clogged condensate line or split washer hose shows up as a ceiling stain after the drywall is already wet.
Shelby County Flash Floods
Bartlett is named whenever the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for Shelby County. Small creeks, low streets and backyards fill fast and push dirty water into garages and back doors.
Typical water damage costs
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Structural drying | $200–$600/day |
| Mold remediation | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Drywall replacement | $3–$6/sq ft |
| Hardwood floor restoration | $5–$12/sq ft |
| Carpet replacement | $3–$8/sq ft |
| Thermal imaging assessment | $150–$400 |
| Content pack-out and restoration | $500–$3,000 |
| Emergency water extraction | $500–$2,500 |
Estimates only — the on-site inspection is free, and most covered losses are billed straight to your insurer.
Insurance and payment
- Free on-site inspection and written estimate.
- The crew works directly with your insurance company and documents every step for the claim.
- Sudden leaks — burst pipes, water heaters, appliance lines — are usually covered by a standard HO-3 policy.
- Flood water from outside needs a separate flood policy (NFIP or private); sewer backup needs an endorsement.
Request water damage help
Describe the damage. We pass your request to a restoration company serving your area, which contacts you to arrange an inspection.