Texas homes face hard freezes that arrive with little warning, flash floods in the center of the state, tropical storms near the coast and slab leaks almost everywhere clay soil moves under concrete.
Standard Texas homeowners policies generally cover sudden water damage, such as a burst pipe, but not rising floodwater, which needs a separate flood policy through the NFIP or a private insurer. Many Texas policies also limit coverage for slab leaks and for damage from leaks that ran a long time.
Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program usually has a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts, so it has to be in place before a storm, not after. See our insurance claims guide for how to document a loss.
Official help: Texas Department of Insurance.
Most Dallas–Fort Worth homes have the main shutoff in the city meter box near the street, plus a house valve on an exterior wall or in the garage. A meter key or a long flat screwdriver opens most meter lids.
North Texas freezes are rare enough that many attics, exterior walls and garages hold unprotected supply lines. The February 2021 winter storm showed how quickly that turns into burst pipes across a whole metro.
March through June brings the region's severe thunderstorms. Hail-damaged roofs and clogged gutters push water into attics and ceilings, often days after the storm when the next rain arrives.
Most homes here sit on concrete slabs over clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks in drought. That movement stresses pipes running under and through the slab, so a warm spot on the floor or a meter that spins with every tap off deserves a look.
Most homes in the Austin suburbs have the main shutoff in the meter box near the curb, with a house valve in the garage or on an outside wall near where the line enters.
Central Texas sits in one of the most flash-flood-prone regions in the country. Creeks that are dry most of the year can rise fast after a stalled storm, and low-lying streets and yards take the runoff first.
Freezes are short but sharp here. Supply lines in attics, garages and exterior walls are the usual failures, and the leak often shows up only when the pipe thaws.
Homes are mostly built on slabs, and the clay and limestone soils move with wet and dry cycles. Slab leaks show up as warm floors, damp baseboards or a water bill that jumps for no reason.
Most Katy-area homes have the main shutoff in the meter box near the street, with a house valve usually in the garage or on an exterior wall.
Tropical storms can drop rain for days. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 flooded thousands of homes across west Houston and the Katy area, including neighborhoods that had never flooded before.
The region is flat, with clay soils that drain slowly. Heavy downpours back up in streets and yards and can push water under doors or into garages within an hour.
Hard freezes are uncommon, so many pipes run through attics and exterior walls without protection. The February 2021 storm burst pipes across the region.
Most homes have the main shutoff at the meter box near the street and a house valve on an outside wall or in the garage.
Heavy rain from stalled storms can turn local creeks and drainage channels into fast water within hours. Garages and ground-floor rooms near low spots are the first to take water.
A few nights below freezing each winter catch exposed supply lines in attics, garages and exterior walls, especially in homes that sit empty during a deployment or move.
Slab foundations are the norm, and water heaters in garages or interior closets are a common source of sudden leaks when tanks reach the end of their life.
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude flooding from outside water. Flood coverage comes from a separate policy through the NFIP or a private flood insurer.
Texas homes face hard freezes that arrive with little warning, flash floods in the center of the state, tropical storms near the coast and slab leaks almost everywhere clay soil moves under concrete.
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