Water Damage After a Leak

Fort Worth Leak Detection is a referral and matching service. We connect you with independent, TSBPE-licensed local plumbers; we don’t perform the work ourselves. For drying and cleanup, we can also point you toward independent local water damage restoration companies, which are separate businesses from plumbers. Either way, a local pro will reach out to talk through your situation.

First steps

1. Stop the water. Close your home’s main shut-off valve. If you can’t find it, the city meter box usually has a valve too, though it may take a special key.
2. Stay safe around electricity. If water is near outlets, cords, or the electrical panel, don’t touch them while standing in water. Turn off power to affected areas at the breaker if you can do so safely.
3. Document everything. Take photos and video of the water, the damage, and anything wet before you move or throw it away. Insurers usually want this.
4. Call your insurance company early to report the loss and ask what they need from you. Many policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
5. Move what you can. Lift furniture off wet carpet, take rugs out, and move valuables and electronics to a dry area.
6. Get the leak fixed. Drying won’t work while water is still coming in. See slab leak detection and slab leak repair.

Why speed matters: mold

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24–48 hours to help prevent mold growth (EPA). Water from a slab leak often soaks in from below, under flooring and into the bottom of drywall and cabinets, so it can be wetter than it looks. Fans from the garage usually aren’t enough for that kind of hidden moisture.

What professional drying usually involves

• Moisture mapping: meters and sometimes thermal cameras to find where water has spread, including under floors and inside walls.
• Water extraction from carpet, pad, and hard floors.
• Selective removal of materials that can’t be dried well, often carpet pad, the bottom of drywall, baseboards, and sometimes cabinet toe-kicks.
• Drying equipment: air movers and dehumidifiers, checked over several days until readings reach normal levels.
• Documentation: daily moisture readings and photos, which help with insurance claims.

Ask any restoration company for written moisture readings and a clear explanation of what they plan to remove and why. Some technicians hold voluntary industry certifications, such as IICRC. It’s fair to ask.

Clean water vs. dirty water

Restoration pros often sort water into categories. Water from a supply line is usually “clean” at first, but it can degrade the longer it sits. Water from a drain or sewer leak is contaminated, and porous materials it touches usually need to be removed rather than dried. If your leak is from a drain or sewer line, tell the pros up front. See water line and sewer leaks.

If mold is already growing

Small spots on hard surfaces can often be cleaned. For larger areas, Texas has specific rules: mold remediation projects of 25 contiguous square feet or more generally must be handled by licensed mold professionals under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s mold program (TDLR). Ask any company whether your situation falls under those rules.

What insurance usually covers

Every policy is different, so read yours or ask your agent. In general:

• Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from a plumbing leak, such as soaked flooring and drywall.
• Many policies also cover the cost of tearing out and replacing part of the house (like the floor or slab) to reach the leaking pipe.
• The pipe repair itself is often not covered, because the pipe is treated as a maintenance item.
• Damage from long-term seepage, mold that developed over time, or neglect is often excluded or limited. Some policies set a time limit on how long a leak can have been going.
• Foundation damage caused by a plumbing leak is covered by some Texas policies or endorsements and excluded by others.

The Texas Department of Insurance has consumer guides on homeowners coverage and filing claims at tdi.texas.gov. See our insurance FAQ for more.

Rebuild after drying

Once everything is dry, the rebuild begins: drywall, baseboards, flooring, paint, sometimes cabinets. Some restoration companies do the rebuild. Others hand it off to a general contractor. Ask who handles it, and get the rebuild scope in writing.

Foundation concerns

A long-running slab leak can affect the soil under your home. If you notice new cracks, sticking doors, or sloping floors after a leak, our sister site Fort Worth Foundation Fix can help you request a foundation inspection.

Common questions