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Water Damage Insurance Claims in Richardson, TX

Most Texas homeowner policies cover sudden water damage, like a burst pipe. Whether you get paid fairly comes down to what you do in the first few days: stopping the water, documenting everything, and knowing the deadlines your insurer has to meet. Here’s the whole process, step by step. Need the water out first? Call (972) 947-2040.

Call (972) 947-2040

Claim steps

Coverage

What’s usually covered, and what isn’t

Usually covered

A pipe that bursts, including in a freeze
A supply line or water heater that suddenly fails
An appliance hose or ice-maker line that suddenly breaks
Water from a sudden roof leak during a storm

Usually not covered

Slow leaks that ran for weeks
Wear and tear or skipped maintenance
Mold from a long-running leak, in many policies
Rising floodwater (needs separate flood insurance)

It depends

Slab leaks: the water damage is often covered when the leak is sudden, but repairing the pipe itself often isn’t. Some policies pay to break out and restore the slab to reach it.
Freeze damage while you’re away: many policies exclude it if the house was left unheated, unless the water was shut off and drained.
Renters: the landlord’s policy covers the building; your renters policy covers your belongings, after your deductible.

Step by step

How to file a water damage claim in 10 steps

Stop the water. Shut off the main valve and, if needed, the breakers for wet rooms.
Document before cleanup. Wide photos, close-ups and video of every wet room, the source and damaged belongings.
Keep the evidence. Save the broken pipe, hose or part; the Insurance Council of Texas recommends holding onto it.
Report the claim quickly. Call your insurer or agent and write down the claim number and the adjuster’s name.
Start mitigation. Get the water out and drying started. Waiting can make damage worse and give the insurer a reason to dispute it.
Get an itemized estimate. Line items, not a lump sum.
Keep the drying log. Daily moisture readings show when the house was really dry and back up every equipment day billed.
Hold onto damaged items until the adjuster has seen them or approved disposal.
Save every receipt, including emergency plumbing, hotel stays and meals if you had to leave home.
Get decisions in writing, and don’t sign over your insurance check or sign anything you haven’t read.

Texas deadlines

Deadlines your insurer must meet in Texas

Texas law sets timelines for first-party homeowner claims. The Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel summarizes them this way:

Step	Deadline
Acknowledge your claim, start investigating, request information	Within 15 days after you report it
Approve or deny in writing (with reasons if denied)	Within 15 business days after receiving everything requested
Extension, with notice explaining why	Up to 45 more days
Pay after approval	Within 5 business days
Weather catastrophe declared by the Texas Department of Insurance	All timeframes extended by 15 days

Business days exclude weekends and state holidays. Surplus lines carriers and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association follow different timelines.

Paperwork

What your restoration company should give you

Photos of the damage before, during and after work
A moisture map showing where water traveled
A daily drying log with readings and equipment counts
An itemized estimate, often in Xactimate format
A clear list of what was removed and why
If mold was remediated by a licensed company, a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days of finishing (required in Texas)

Mistakes

Mistakes that cost homeowners money

Waiting to see if it dries. The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24–48 hours to prevent mold.
Throwing things out too early, before the adjuster has seen them.
Letting the company set the price by your deductible instead of the damage.
Signing over your insurance check or an agreement you haven’t read; the Insurance Council of Texas warns about this after big storms.
Not reading the freezing clause before leaving an empty house in winter.

Disputes

If you disagree with your adjuster

Ask for the decision and the reasons in writing.
Send your own photos, drying logs and estimates.
Check your policy for an appraisal clause, which many policies use for disputes over the amount.
Consider a licensed public adjuster for large or complex claims.
Contact the Texas Department of Insurance consumer help line if you believe the claim was mishandled.

What will the work itself cost? See our water damage restoration cost guide.

Claims by cause: burst pipes, appliance leaks, water heater leaks and sewage backups. For local storm and freeze history, see Richardson water damage data.

Related guides: burst pipe claims in Texas · slab leak claims.

FAQ

Water damage insurance FAQs

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Texas?

Usually, when the damage is sudden and accidental, like a burst pipe or a water heater that suddenly fails. According to the Insurance Council of Texas, most Texas homeowner policies cover burst pipes inside the home. Slow leaks, wear and tear, skipped maintenance and rising floodwater are commonly excluded.

How long does my insurer have to respond to a water damage claim in Texas?

Under Texas rules summarized by the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, the insurer has 15 days after you report the claim to acknowledge it, start investigating and request information. It then has 15 business days after receiving everything it asked for to approve or deny in writing, and 5 business days after approval to pay.

Should I start cleanup before the adjuster comes?

Yes. Stop the water and start drying; policies generally expect you to prevent further damage, and waiting makes things worse. Photograph everything first, keep the broken part, and keep damaged items (or clear photos of them) until the adjuster says they can go.

Can I choose my own restoration company?

Yes. Your insurer may suggest a company, but the choice is yours. Whoever you use, get an itemized estimate and a daily drying log, and don’t sign over your insurance check or sign anything you haven’t read.

What if I disagree with the adjuster?

Ask for the decision and the reasons in writing, and send your own photos, moisture logs and estimates. Many policies have an appraisal clause for disputes over the amount. You can also hire a public adjuster, or contact the Texas Department of Insurance for help.

Sources for this page

This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy wording controls; ask your agent or insurer about your coverage.

Last updated October 2026.

Need the water out before the adjuster comes?

Getting it dried and documented early protects both your house and your claim.