You walk into the kitchen and your socks get wet. Water is spreading from under the sink, or the dishwasher, or somewhere you can't see yet. One question jumps the line: is this covered?
Often it is, but Texas home policies draw sharp lines around how the water got there. For the whole policy, see our complete Texas home insurance guide.
Does Texas home insurance cover water damage?
The short answer: Most Texas home policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe or a broken washer hose, but not slow leaks, flooding or, unless you add it, water backing up from a drain.
The Texas Department of Insurance's water damage and mold tips (updated April 24, 2025) say most homeowners and renters policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet or a broken washer hose.
The other side of the line is time. TDI's home insurance guide (updated June 1, 2026) lists "a continuous water leak" among the things most policies don't cover. A pipe that bursts on Tuesday is a claim. A drip that rotted the subfloor over a year usually isn't.
| Where the water came from | Usually | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Burst pipe, broken supply line, toilet overflow | Covered | Sudden and accidental, per TDI |
| Slow leak or seepage over weeks | Not covered | TDI lists a continuous leak as excluded |
| Rain through a storm-damaged roof | Usually covered | Your wind and hail coverage and deductible |
| Water backing up through a drain | Only with an add-on | TDI lists sewer and drain backup as an endorsement |
| Rising water from outside | Not covered | Needs a separate flood policy |
Your policy is the final word. For other gaps, see what a Texas homeowners policy doesn't cover.
Are burst and frozen pipes covered in Texas?
The short answer: Water damage from a pipe that suddenly freezes and bursts is usually covered, but many policies limit freeze claims in a home left unoccupied.
Texas learned this in February 2021. The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office's February 2021 climate summary records a low of 13°F at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the official City of Houston station, on February 16, 2021. Its Valentine's Week 2021 storm summary lists broken pipes among the impacts.
That figure is from TDI's report on insured losses from the February 2021 winter weather event, which counts $8.8 billion paid across all lines as of that date and lists freezing pipes first among causes of property damage.
Watch for vacancy wording. TDI's 2018 review of Texas homeowners policies lists freezing pipes while a house is unoccupied as a common exclusion. If a home will sit empty in winter, read that wording first.
- Wrap exposed pipes. TDI's January 2026 frozen pipe tips suggest starting in the attic and wrapping outdoor faucets.
- Find your shutoff valves. TDI says to know where the main valve is, plus the valves under sinks and near appliances.
See our Houston insurance page for local coverage.
What about slab leaks and tearing out to reach the pipe?
The short answer: It depends on your policy's wording, because tearing out to reach the leak, the water damage and any foundation damage can each be treated differently, and TDI lists foundation and slab damage as an endorsement you can add.
Three separate costs can show up on one slab leak:
- Tear-out. Breaking into a slab, floor or wall to reach the pipe, then putting it back.
- Water damage. Wet flooring, cabinets, drywall and belongings.
- Foundation damage. Settling or cracking the leak caused.
Policies split these differently. As background only: in 1997, TDI Bulletin B-0032-97 stated TDI's position that the old standard HO-B form covered foundation damage from an accidental discharge of water, and described endorsements limiting tear-out coverage. Forms have changed since, so it doesn't describe your policy.
The current reference is TDI's home insurance guide, which lists "damage to foundations or slabs" as an optional endorsement and earth movement as an exclusion. We ask three questions: does it pay to tear out and replace, is there a dollar sublimit, and is foundation damage from a plumbing leak covered or an add-on? Our guide to Texas foundation coverage and expansive soil exclusions covers the soil side.
Are appliance leaks covered, and do they count against you?
The short answer: A sudden appliance leak, like a burst washer hose or a failed water heater, is usually covered, and Texas law limits how insurers can use an appliance claim against you once the damage is properly fixed and certified.
A water heater that has dripped for months is a different story.
Example only, not a real claim: a washer hose bursts and causes $9,000 of covered damage to flooring and drywall. With a $2,000 deductible, the policy would pay up to $7,000, subject to your limits and terms.
Texas Insurance Code §544.353 says an insurer may not use a prior appliance-related claim to set your rate or to issue, renew or cancel your policy if the damage was properly remediated and the work inspected and certified by someone experienced in water damage remediation. An appliance means a household gas or electric device, including attached hoses. The protection ends for a person paid on three or more appliance claims in three years, or a home with three or more in three years.
In plain English: after an appliance leak, get the repair inspected and keep the certificate. TDI's guide adds that the first two appliance-related water damage claims don't count toward the three-claim non-renewal rule if you've fixed the damage and it passed inspection by a qualified inspector. Our guide to Texas non-renewal rules explains the rest. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a roof leak after wind or hail covered?
The short answer: Usually yes, when a storm damages the roof and rain gets in, but a roof that leaks from age and wear usually isn't covered.
TDI's hail and windstorm tips (updated December 9, 2025) say your company should pay for hail damage if your policy includes wind and hail coverage. Rain that gets in through that storm damage is typically part of the same claim. TDI's guide lists wear and tear as excluded, so a worn-out roof is usually a maintenance cost.
- The deductible. Many policies use a separate wind and hail deductible, often a percentage. On a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $6,000. Our wind and hail deductible guide turns each percentage into dollars.
- The coast. TDI's guide says that on the Texas coast or in Harris County on Galveston Bay, your home policy might not cover wind and hail, and TWIA sells that coverage to coastal residents. Insurance Code §2210.208 requires TWIA dwelling policies to cover wind-driven rain whether or not the wind made an opening.
The full roof process is in our Texas roof claim guide.
How much mold damage will a policy pay for?
The short answer: TDI says mold on an item damaged by a covered loss would be covered, but most home policies don't cover mold from gradual leaks or floods, or mold cleanup and testing after the damaged item is removed, unless you add coverage.
TDI's water and mold tips say, "If mold develops on a damaged item, it would be covered." But most home policies don't include mold cleanup and testing after the item is removed, though your company may let you add coverage for cleanup caused by a covered loss; TDI's guide lists "mold removal" as an endorsement. Mold from gradual leaks or a flood usually isn't covered.
For mold work, TDI says to make sure the mold professional has a state license, and that mold professionals must provide a certificate that the mold was removed. If you have a mold endorsement, check its dollar limit now.
Why aren't flood and sewer backup part of standard coverage?
The short answer: Texas home policies exclude flood, which needs a separate flood policy, and they usually treat water backing up through drains as an endorsement you add.
TDI's home insurance guide lists flooding as not covered by most policies and says most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period. FEMA's FloodSmart site explains what an NFIP policy covers.
Flood risk isn't limited to mapped zones. After Hurricane Harvey, the Harris County Flood Control District found 68% of the county's flooded structures were outside the 100-year floodplain. See our guide to flood insurance outside a high-risk zone.
Water coming up through a drain is different again: TDI lists "backup of sewers or drains" as an optional endorsement. Limits and sump pumps are in our sewer backup and sump pump guide.
What do you have to do right after a leak?
The short answer: Stop the water, protect your home from more damage, document everything before you clean up and report the claim quickly, because TDI says your insurer may deny a claim if you don't protect your property.
TDI's January 2026 water damage post says to shut off the water at the main and move expensive items off the floor, and warns, "Your insurer may deny your claim if you don't protect your property."
- Shut it off at the main or the fixture valve, and stay away from wet outlets.
- Photograph before you clean. TDI says to take photos or video before repairs.
- Temporary fixes only. TDI says to make temporary repairs and not permanent ones until your insurer sees the damage.
- Keep receipts and damaged items. TDI says don't throw anything away until the adjuster has seen it.
Can't live there during repairs? TDI's guide says additional living expenses coverage might be limited to 10 to 20% of your dwelling coverage.
How do you document a water claim, and what are the deadlines?
The short answer: TDI says you usually must report hidden water damage within days of first seeing it, and Texas law gives most insurers 15 days to acknowledge your claim, then deadlines to decide and pay.
TDI's water and mold tips say, "You usually must report water damage that was hidden from view within days after you first see it." TDI's home insurance guide says to tell your company as soon as possible; some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay. Check your policy and don't wait.
Keep dated photos, receipts, the plumber's report and a call log.
| Step | Deadline for most insurers |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge, start investigating, request what it needs | Within 15 days of your notice (§542.055) |
| Accept or reject in writing | Within 15 business days after it gets what it asked for, or up to 45 more days if it tells you why (§542.056) |
| Pay an approved claim | Within 5 business days (§542.057) |
| After a declared weather catastrophe | 15 extra days on each deadline (§542.059) |
| Eligible surplus lines insurers | 30 business days to acknowledge and 20 business days to pay |
Source: Texas Insurance Code chapter 542, read November 11, 2026. TWIA wind and hail claims follow their own rules: TDI's guide says you have one year from the date of damage to file and TWIA has 60 days to accept or deny. This is general information, not legal advice. If you're stuck, call us or TDI at 800-252-3439.
The bottom line
Sudden water damage is usually covered; slow leaks, floods and drain backups usually aren't. Act fast and document everything.
We're an independent agency in Friendswood. We shop Geico, Progressive, Liberty Mutual and Safeco, plus TWIA or private wind and NFIP or private flood, and we re-confirm which carriers can write your home before every quote. When we re-shop coverage, clients save on average about $500 a year, though results vary. Start on our quote page, read about home insurance, see our coverage-first shopping guide, or call (832) 703-1289.
Last reviewed by the Watson Insurance team on November 11, 2026. Coverage rules are from TDI's home insurance guide and water and mold tips; deadlines from Insurance Code chapter 542, read November 11, 2026; storm data from TDI and the NWS. Educational only, not personalized insurance advice.
