How to choose a water damage restoration company in Texas
Most people pick a water damage company in a hurry, with water still on the floor. A few minutes spent on the right questions saves money and arguments with the insurer later. This guide covers what matters in Texas.
First, stop the water and take pictures
Shut off the water at the main valve or the fixture, and turn off power to any wet room if it is safe to reach the panel. Then photograph everything before anything is moved or thrown out. The Texas Department of Insurance says water damage that was hidden from view usually has to be reported within days of finding it, so call the insurer early.
Know what your policy usually covers
According to TDI, most Texas homeowner and renters policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, a toilet overflow or a broken washer hose. Most do not cover gradual leaks or seepage, or the mold that comes from them, and home policies do not cover floods. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, and FEMA says a new flood policy typically takes 30 days to go into effect, so it cannot be bought once a storm is on the way.
Read the services on each listing
Every listing here shows what the company says about itself on its own website. The most useful lines for an emergency are 24/7 service, work with insurance companies, and water damage restoration itself. Many businesses in Google's water damage category are carpet cleaners, roofers or plumbers who take some water work on the side. They can be the right call for a small job, but a soaked subfloor or wet drywall needs a company that extracts the water and dries the structure with its own equipment. Companies whose sites confirm that are sorted first on every city page.
If there is mold
Mold remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more is licensed work in Texas, regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A licensed remediator works from a protocol written by a licensed mold assessment consultant, and the same company may not do both the assessment and the remediation on one project. Smaller areas of visible mold can, in most instances, be cleaned up without a license. This directory reports what each company says about mold work; it does not check licenses.
What to ask on the first call
- How soon can a crew be on site, and is it your own crew or a subcontractor?
- Do you bill my insurance company directly, and will you document moisture readings and photos for the adjuster?
- Do you also do the repairs and rebuild, or will I need a separate contractor?
- If there is mold or sewage, how do you handle it, and who writes the mold protocol?
- Will I get a written estimate before work beyond the emergency drying starts?
Ratings help too, if you read them with the review count. A 5.0 from three reviews says less than a 4.7 from three hundred. Every city page shows both.