If water is leaking inside your Houston home, shut off the water supply and stay away from wet outlets and cords. Call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent restoration company that serves Houston to extract the water and dry the building.
What to do in the first 24 hours in Houston
- Stop the water. Close the main shutoff valve or the valve on the leaking fixture. For a city water main or meter problem, call 311 (713-837-0311 from some phones).
- Stay clear of wet electrics. Don’t touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water. Turn off power only if you can do it safely (Ready.gov).
- Call your insurer and photograph the water, the source and every affected room before cleanup (TDI claim tips).
- Report it promptly. Some homeowners policies require notice of water damage much sooner than other claims (TDI).
- Start drying fast. The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold (EPA).
- Don’t use gas appliances that were under water until a qualified technician checks them. CenterPoint Energy is Houston’s gas utility. From a safe place, call 911 and CenterPoint at 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 (CenterPoint Energy).
- Move what you can. Lift furniture onto blocks and move papers and valuables out of the wet area.
Local numbers to keep handy in Houston
| Who | Why you might call | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Fire, injury or gas leak | 911 |
| City of Houston | City services, water problems | 311 or 713-837-0311 |
| HFD records office | Fire reports | 832-394-6860 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Power outages | 800-227-1376 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Gas leaks | 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 |
| Structural Inspections | Fire damage inspection before a repair permit | 832-394-8840 |
| Houston Permitting Center | Repair permits | 832-394-9000 |
| Floodplain Management Office | Floodplain homes, before any repair | 832-394-8854 |
| Harris County permits | Repairs outside city limits | 713-274-3900 |
What water damage restoration involves
| Stage | What happens | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Find the source and map moisture | The leak is located and wet materials are mapped with meters. | First visit |
| Extract water | Standing water is pumped and vacuumed from floors and carpet. | Usually the first day |
| Remove unsalvageable materials | Soaked pad, baseboards or drywall come out so the structure can dry. | First days |
| Structural drying | Air movers and dehumidifiers run while readings are logged daily. | Several days in most homes |
| Clean and treat | Surfaces are cleaned; contaminated water means more removal. | During drying |
| Repairs | Drywall, flooring, trim and cabinets are replaced once readings confirm dry. | After drying |
The industry standard is the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration.
What it typically costs
- How much water there was and how far it spread.
- Clean water from a supply line versus contaminated water.
- How long it sat before drying started.
- How much drywall, flooring and cabinetry must be removed.
- How many days drying equipment runs.
- Repairs and plumbing permits.
Ask for an itemized estimate and copies of the daily moisture readings.
How does insurance work for water damage restoration in Texas?
Your adjuster decides what your policy covers. The restoration company documents the damage and writes the estimate the adjuster reviews. It can’t negotiate your claim for you.
- Timelines: insurers have 15 business days to acknowledge a claim, then 15 business days to accept or deny it after receiving what they need. They can take 45 more days if they explain why (TDI).
- What to photograph: every affected room, the source of the damage and damaged belongings, before cleanup.
- What the restorer documents: photos, moisture readings or residue notes, a written scope and an itemized estimate.
- Deductible: you pay it. Texas law bars contractors from offering to waive, rebate or absorb it. A contractor also can’t act as your public adjuster (TDI: know the law).
- Living expenses: if covered damage makes the home unlivable, additional living expenses coverage may pay for a hotel and meals (TDI).
- Flood is separate: rising water from outside is usually covered only by a flood policy, not standard homeowners insurance.
Problems with a claim? Call the Texas Department of Insurance help line at 800-252-3439 or file a complaint.
What’s specific to Houston?
- Faster permits for like-for-like repairs. After severe weather, the city expedites permits for reroofing and minor like-for-like structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing repairs. Call 832-394-8899 with your project number (Houston Permitting Center).
- City services by phone. Houston’s 311 line handles city service requests. Outside the area or from some mobile phones, dial 713-837-0311 (City of Houston 311).
- CenterPoint for gas and power lines. CenterPoint Energy Entex is the gas utility for Houston (Railroad Commission of Texas). CenterPoint lists 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 for gas leaks and 800-227-1376 for power outages (CenterPoint Energy).
- Floodplain homes: call before repairing. If your home is in the floodplain, the city says you must call its Floodplain Management Office before any repairs (Houston Permitting Center). The office is at 832-394-8854.
- Most homes are rentals. About 42% of Houston’s occupied homes are owner-occupied (42.1%, U.S. Census Bureau 2020–2024 estimate), so many households need their landlord involved (Census QuickFacts).
How getting help works
When you call or send the form, we connect you with an independent restoration company that serves your area. They inspect, document the damage and give you a written scope — you decide whether to hire them.
Questions to ask the company that comes out
- Which IICRC certifications does the lead technician hold (for example WRT, FSRT, OCT or AMRT)?
- Do you carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance, and can I see the certificate?
- Will I get a written scope of work before anything starts?
- Who will talk with my insurance adjuster, and what will you send them?
- If mold is involved: what is your TDLR mold remediation license number, and who did the independent mold assessment?
Frequently asked questions
Extraction usually starts on the first visit. Drying then takes several days, depending on what got wet.
It can be, depending on your policy and the cause. Report it quickly, photograph everything and let your adjuster decide.
Not always. Drywall soaked by clean water can sometimes be dried in place. The restoration company decides from moisture readings.
Yes. Houston requires a fire damage inspection by its Structural Inspections Section (832-394-8840) before you apply for a residential fire damage repair permit.
No. Standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood from rising water outside. That needs a separate flood policy.
Related help nearby
- Fire, smoke and water damage help in Houston
- Fire Damage Restoration in Houston
- Smoke Damage Restoration in Houston
- Flood Damage Cleanup in Houston
- Mold Remediation in Houston
- Harris County
- Water Damage Restoration: the full guide
- Water damage after a fire
Get connected with a local restoration company
Free. No obligation. Prefer to talk? Call (855) 727-0147.