Guide
Texas water damage insurance basics
This is general information from the Texas Department of Insurance, not advice on your policy. Your own policy wording and your insurer decide what is paid.
How policies usually sort water
| Kind of loss | What TDI says |
|---|---|
| Sudden and accidental release of water | Generally covered by most policies. |
| A continuous water leak | Generally not covered. |
| Flooding | Excluded by most home policies. A separate flood policy is needed. |
| Backup of sewers or drains | Not standard. Available as an add-on. |
| Mold removal | Excluded, except when needed to repair damage from a covered risk. |
Claim timing in Texas
TDI says to notify the company as soon as possible, because most have filing deadlines. Some policies allow one year unless you show good cause for a delay.
Under Texas law the insurer must acknowledge your claim within 15 days. It must accept or reject the claim within 15 business days after receiving what it needs, and pay within five business days of agreeing to pay. The guide lists exceptions.
Deductibles
A deductible is the share of a covered loss that you pay. Texas law makes it illegal for a contractor to waive it or help you avoid it. TDI notes the insurer can ask for proof that you paid.
That rule applies to every contractor, including any firm you reach through a referral line. See the TDI page.
Who to ask
TDI runs a help line at 800-252-3439 for questions about how to file a claim. The Office of Public Insurance Counsel at 1-877-611-6742 is another state office that answers insurance questions.
The state regulator's main site is tdi.texas.gov.
Water is still moving. Call about it now.
Describe what happened, give the street address, and the call is routed to an independent restoration contractor.