Water Damage Playbook

dallas water damage

dallas water damage is a verify-and-extract problem. Water-only work is not a Texas mold license. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 78.30 lists 25 contiguous square feet as the mold threshold. In the first 24 hours, stop the source, extract standing water, photograph rooms, and look up IICRC WRT or ASD plus TDLR if mold appears.

Last updated: August 25, 2026

Dallas hire checks

SignalWhere to verifyWhen it matters
IICRC WRT or ASDIICRC locatorWater extraction and drying
TDLR mold contractorTDLR License SearchVisible mold at or above 25 contiguous square feet
CGL not less than $1 million per occurrence16 TAC § 78.40Licensed mold jobs
Written IICRC categoryOn the estimateEvery loss, including freeze bursts and sewage

Related: water damage restoration cost, houston mold remediation, burst pipe water damage cleanup in Austin.

ClaimURLListed
Texas mold exemption / cease thresholdlaw.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/16-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-78-3025 contiguous square feet
Texas mold licensee CGL floorlaw.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/16-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-78-40$1 million per occurrence

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Texas license dallas water damage extraction?

Water-only extraction is not a TDLR mold license. Mold work is the regulated slice. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 78.30 lists 25 contiguous square feet as the point where unlicensed exemptions fall away. Ask for IICRC WRT or ASD on the water job, then a TDLR number if visible mold is in the scope.

What should I do in the first 24 hours after dallas water damage?

Stop the supply if you can do it safely, move dry contents, extract standing water, and photograph every wet room before tear-out. Open a claim the same day if you will file. Category 1 water that sits becomes a mold problem Texas treats under the published 25 contiguous square feet rule.

How do I verify a Dallas restoration company?

Confirm Texas Secretary of State registration, a current certificate of liability insurance, and IICRC names on the IICRC locator. If mold is part of the job, search TDLR for an active Mold Remediation Contractor. § 78.40 lists $1 million per occurrence as the licensed CGL floor.

What belongs on a dallas water damage estimate?

The ticket should name the IICRC category, rooms, equipment counts, daily moisture visits, and what reconstruction is excluded. Freeze bursts in attics and sewage backups are different categories. Reject a flat fee that never states category. Related rebuild permits are a city issue.