Water Damage Restoration in Tyler, Longview & East Texas

What to do first if you have water damage

Stop the water at the main shutoff, stay clear of wet rooms with power on, then move valuables and photograph the damage. Do these in order, and skip any step that isn’t safe.

1. Stop the water. Shut off the main valve, the supply line under a sink or toilet, or unplug the leaking appliance.
2. Stay clear of electricity. Never wade through standing water near outlets or a breaker panel.
3. Move what you can. Get valuables and furniture off wet flooring.
4. Document everything. Take photos or video before anything is moved or thrown out. Your insurer will likely ask for them.
5. Get help lined up. The faster wet materials are dried, the less likely you are to need mold removal or new flooring, drywall and cabinets.

What water damage restoration actually involves

Water damage restoration is a five-step job: inspection, water extraction, drying and dehumidification, moisture mapping, then cleaning and repairs. It is not just running a fan and hoping for the best.

1. Inspection and assessment. A technician checks how far the water traveled, what materials got wet, and whether the water is clean, gray, or contaminated, often with moisture meters and thermal imaging. This determines the plan and the equipment needed.
2. Water extraction. Standing water is pumped or vacuumed out with truck-mounted or portable extraction equipment. The faster this happens, the less water soaks into the subfloor, framing and insulation.
3. Drying and dehumidification. Industrial air movers and low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers are set up to pull moisture out of the structure. This stage usually runs several days, with equipment left running continuously.
4. Moisture mapping. Technicians use moisture meters to check walls, floors and framing throughout the job, so the space isn’t called “dry” based on a guess. This step confirms the structure has actually returned to a normal moisture level before equipment comes out.
5. Cleaning and repairs. Depending on what was affected, this can mean cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, replacing wet drywall or insulation, refinishing or replacing flooring, and repainting.

Categories and classes of water damage

Restoration crews generally describe a job using the IICRC S500 standard, the industry reference for water damage restoration. It splits a loss into two things: how contaminated the water is (category) and how much of the structure got wet (class).

Classes describe how much of the structure absorbed water and how hard the job will be to dry, ranging from Class 1 (a small, partially affected area with low absorption) up to Class 4 (water trapped in materials like hardwood, plaster, or concrete that takes specialized, extended drying). Any category can occur with any class, so a small clean-water leak and a widespread black-water flood are handled very differently even though both count as water damage.

Why East Texas homes see water damage

East Texas water damage comes mainly from hard freezes that burst pipes, heavy thunderstorm rain and flash flooding, and everyday failures like water heaters, washer supply lines and slow roof leaks. Winter freezes are one of the biggest. During the Great Texas Freeze of February 11 to 20, 2021, every county in the state was placed under a Winter Storm Warning, and NOAA calls it the coldest winter storm for Texas since December 1989.

The insurance numbers show how much of that became property damage. The Texas Department of Insurance counted 510,772 claims and about $11.2 billion in expected insured losses from the event, driven largely by frozen pipes. Smith County alone reported 3,533 claims and $116.3 million in paid losses, one of the 25 hardest hit counties in Texas.

Beyond freezes, Smith County (Tyler) and Gregg County (Longview) regularly see flash flood warnings tied to heavy thunderstorms, which can push water into homes near creeks, low-lying streets and underpasses. Add an aging water heater, a supply line that fails behind a washing machine, or a slow roof leak that finally shows up as a ceiling stain, and restoration calls come in year-round, with the sharpest spikes after a freeze or a heavy storm.

What it costs

Costs vary a lot based on how much water, how many rooms, and what materials were affected, so treat any number as a starting point rather than a quote. HomeGuide’s 2026 national cost data puts the average job at $2,000 to $6,000. Extraction and drying typically run $4 to $12 per square foot depending on the water category, while rebuilding damaged materials (drywall, flooring, trim) is priced separately on top of that. For a fuller breakdown, see our water damage cost guide.

Always get a written, itemized estimate from the company that does the work before it begins, and ask how they’ll handle anything insurance doesn’t cover.

What insurance typically covers

Most standard homeowners and renters policies in Texas cover water damage that’s sudden and accidental, like a pipe that bursts or a washing machine hose that fails, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. If mold develops on an item damaged by that covered event, it is usually covered too. Two common gaps trip people up: damage from a leak that built up slowly over time, which policies usually exclude, and damage from flooding, meaning water that enters from outside the home. Flood damage requires a separate flood insurance policy. For more detail on filing a claim and what to expect, see our insurance and water damage guide.

Mold risk and timing

Materials that stay wet for more than 24 to 48 hours are at real risk of mold growth, according to the EPA. That window is the main reason restoration companies emphasize a fast response: the sooner extraction and drying start, the less likely you are to need separate mold remediation on top of the repair. If mold does show up and covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, Texas law requires that remediation be handled by a contractor licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) rather than a general handyman or unlicensed crew. Learn more on our mold remediation page.

How to choose a water damage restoration company

Choose a company that can show its IICRC certification, gives you a written itemized estimate, and explains how it works with your insurer. A short checklist:

• IICRC certification. Look the company up on the IICRC Global Locator, which lists certified firms and technicians.
• A written, itemized estimate that separates extraction and drying from repairs, before any work starts.
• Insurance paperwork. Ask who documents the loss with photos and moisture readings, and who talks to your adjuster.
• A TDLR license for mold work. If mold is involved, check the license on TDLR’s license search.
• Local references from recent jobs in your area.

Our About page has a longer list of questions to ask the company that does your job.

Water damage in businesses and rental properties

Businesses and rental properties need the same fast drying, but the insurance and the decision-maker differ. A commercial property policy has its own terms, so check it with your agent rather than assuming it matches a homeowners policy.

If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager right away, since the building is theirs to repair. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your personal items; renters insurance covers your belongings and can pay extra living costs if a covered loss forces you out for a while.

Towns we help in

We help homeowners and businesses across Smith, Gregg, Harrison and nearby counties. See water damage restoration in Tyler and water damage help in Longview, or browse all East Texas service areas.

Related situations we help with

Besides leaks and appliance failures, we help with burst and frozen pipes, flood cleanup, sewage backups, mold and fire damage. If a pipe froze and split during a cold snap, see our burst and frozen pipes page. If rising water came from outside the home rather than a plumbing failure, see flood cleanup. If the water came from a backed-up drain or sewer line, see sewage cleanup, since that contaminated water needs different handling than a clean supply line break. Smoke and soot after a fire are covered on our fire and smoke damage page, and if standing water sat long enough for growth to start, see mold removal and remediation.