Frequently Asked Questions

Most standard policies typically cover a sudden and accidental water discharge, which usually includes a pipe that bursts without warning. Your policy's exact wording, along with any exclusions or deductibles, controls the outcome.

No. Most standard Texas policies typically exclude damage from continuous leakage or seepage over time, even though they typically cover a sudden and accidental discharge like a burst pipe.

Not later than the 15th day after the insurer receives notice of your claim, or the 30th business day if the insurer is an eligible surplus lines insurer, under Texas Insurance Code Section 542.055(a).

If more than 60 days pass after the insurer receives everything it reasonably requested, it may owe interest and other amounts under Section 542.060, referenced in Section 542.058(a).

Yes. In a weather-related catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the insurance commissioner, the claim-handling deadlines under this subchapter are extended by an additional 15 days under Section 542.059(b).

The National Weather Service Fort Worth office tracks Dallas-Fort Worth's freeze dates; the average first freeze is November 22 and the average last freeze is March 12. If mold shows up after the pipe is fixed, read what to do about mold after water damage in Denton.

Call utilities dispatch at (940) 349-7000 for any water or wastewater issue. If the leak sits between the street and your meter box, it is the City's repair; if it sits between the meter box and your house, it is yours.

The Floodplain Administrator is reachable at (940) 349-8942. Contact that office before you construct or place anything in the floodplain. According to the city, any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal, so check before you begin work rather than after.

Damage counts as substantial when the repair cost would equal or exceed 50% of the home's market value while it sits in the floodplain. That triggers a permit requirement through Building Inspections at (940) 349-8360, 401 N. Elm St.

The Engineering Department is available, upon request, to make site visits and review flood protection plans. You can also check your address against Denton's adopted flood maps, in effect since April 18, 2011, and updated June 19, 2020.

For information about Denton's sirens, contact the Office of Emergency Management at (940) 349-8836. This office is separate from utilities dispatch, which handles water and wastewater issues, and from the Floodplain Administrator, who handles floodplain permits, so keep all three numbers on hand.

A new NFIP policy in Denton normally has a 30-day waiting period, with exceptions. Ask your insurer about the policy's effective date, waiting-period exceptions, and coverage before you assume it will apply to a flood that is already happening.

The city's published plumbing-permit rule is posted on its commercial permits page, not a homeowner-specific page. Ask Building Inspections at (940) 349-8600 whether your specific repair needs a permit.

Call Customer Service at (940) 349-8700 for billing and account questions. That is a separate line from utilities dispatch, which handles active leaks and emergencies. For the first steps inside the house, start with the Denton water damage restoration overview.

The city names Cooper Creek, Pecan Creek, North Pecan Creek, Hickory Creek, and Dry Fork Hickory Creek as the areas where its mapped flood hazard mainly sits, along with their tributaries.

No. Texas law caps a public adjuster's commission at 10% of the settlement, and the adjuster cannot charge any percentage fee if the insurer pays or commits in writing to pay the policy limit within 72 hours of the loss report.

The City of Denton has adopted Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) issued by FEMA, effective April 18, 2011, and updated June 19, 2020. These maps mark the mapped flood hazard areas along Cooper Creek, Pecan Creek, North Pecan Creek, Hickory Creek, and Dry Fork Hickory Creek. If you are unsure whether your address is affected, ask the Floodplain Administrator at (940) 349-8942.

Yes. Under Occupations Code §1958.153, a mold remediation company must notify the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation not later than the fifth day before starting work. In an emergency, that notice is due not later than the next business day. See our mold after water damage guide for Denton for the rest of the licensing rules.

Under Insurance Code §542.056(a), the insurer must notify you in writing that it accepts or rejects your claim not later than the 15th business day after it receives all the items, statements, and forms it requires. If it needs more time, it must still decide not later than the 45th day after telling you it needs more time. See our burst pipe water damage guide for Denton for the claim deadlines that follow next.

Texas has a separate process for construction defects, the Residential Construction Liability Act. Under Property Code §27.004(a), you must send the contractor written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 60 days before filing suit. The contractor then gets a 35-day period after receiving the notice to inspect, with up to three inspections. This is general information, not legal advice.

Yes, once the job covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, Texas law requires the company to hold a mold remediation license under Occupations Code chapter 1958. Ask to see the license before work starts.

Doing the work yourself is different: an owner of a residential property with fewer than 10 dwelling units needs no mold license, whatever the size of the area. Whether to tackle a large or heavily contaminated area yourself is a separate decision from what the law allows.

No. A license holder may not act as both the mold assessor and the mold remediator on the same project under Texas law. Expect two different companies or licensed individuals for those two roles.

The licensed remediator must give you a certificate of mold remediation not later than the 10th day after the work is completed. Keep this certificate; it documents that licensed work took place.

According to FEMA, ”Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding and any other items holding moisture can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours.” How fast mold actually appears in your home still depends on the material and how long it stays wet.

Most standard policies typically exclude mold on its own but may cover mold remediation tied to a loss the policy already covers, such as a sudden pipe burst. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer directly.

You can file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance if you believe a covered claim was mishandled. This page gives general information only and is not insurance or legal advice. For general help finding a water damage provider in Denton, see the Denton TX water damage homepage.