Water Damage

Many Texas homeowners policies cover water that escapes suddenly and accidentally from plumbing or appliances, including resulting damage. The cost to repair the failed pipe itself is often excluded, as is damage from long-term seepage. Your policy wording controls.

Water damage starts inside the property, such as a burst supply line, an overflowing appliance or a roof leak during a storm. Flood is rising surface water from outside, including storm surge and bayou overflow, and it generally requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy.

It can be where the physical evidence points to a sudden failure. Moisture gradients, the condition of the failed part, corrosion and the extent of any growth all say something about duration. The sooner that evidence is captured, the better it holds up.

Many Texas policies include limited mold coverage when the mold results from a covered water loss, often with a sub-limit. Mold from an excluded cause, or from a leak left unaddressed, is generally not covered. The policy and the cause of the water decide it.

Most policies expect you to prevent further damage, so stopping the leak and starting emergency drying should not wait. Photograph and video everything before mitigation begins, keep every invoice and hold off on permanent repairs until the loss is documented.