Water damage in Garland, TX: older homes, permits and hiring

The city's Water Utilities page lists Water Operations at 972-205-3210 for water and wastewater emergency service and urgent maintenance requests, and says the line is staffed around the clock. That is the number for a main break, a city sewer backup or water coming up in the street. Garland Water Utilities is a city department with four divisions: drinking water, wastewater, pretreatment and laboratory services. The same page lists 972-205-3000 for emergency power outages. That matters if water has reached outlets or the panel and you need the power off.

Inside the house, close your own main valve first. Our emergency water damage page explains the first steps, and what to do first covers the hours after that.

U.S. Census Bureau data for 2024 (ACS table B25034 via Census Reporter) shows that about 55 percent of Garland homes were built before 1980, and about 47 percent were built in the 1960s and 1970s alone. Only about 19 percent date from 2000 or later.

In homes of that age, slow leaks hidden in walls, under slabs and behind appliances are common. That has an insurance angle. The Texas Department of Insurance says most home policies cover sudden and accidental water damage but not damage from gradual leaks or seepage. If you find old staining, rot or mold, expect the adjuster to ask how long the leak has been going. Our insurance claim guide explains the process.

Garland's Residential Building and Construction Permits page lists separate applications for plumbing work, including sewer repairs, under-slab repairs, irrigation and gas work, as well as a homeowner affidavit for plumbing, a water heater replacement application and a single-family miscellaneous application for other work. The plumbing permits page links to the requirements for sewer and under-slab repairs. If your water damage started with a broken drain under the slab or a failed water heater, the repair is likely to need one of these.

Drying a house out usually does not need a permit, but rebuilding often does. Ask whoever is doing the repair which permit applies and who will pull it, and do not pull a permit on a contractor's behalf.

• Find the cause first. Drying a room without fixing the drain, supply line or water heater that leaked means the water can come back.
• Ask for the water category and damage class in writing. A drain or sewer backup is contaminated water, which changes what must be removed.
• Photograph everything before removal, and keep samples of damaged materials until the adjuster has seen them.
• Get a written scope with equipment, days, materials and price method before work begins.

Texas has no state license for drying out a house. Two related trades are licensed, though. Mold assessment and mold remediation are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Its mold FAQ says the same company may not do both the assessment and the remediation on the same project, and only a licensed remediator can issue a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation. Plumbing repairs need a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which runs its own license search.

Search any mold company in the TDLR license search. Typical price ranges are in our restoration cost guide.

This site is an independent homeowner guide. We are not a contractor, we do not perform restoration work, and we do not answer phones. To reach a restoration company, call one of the companies listed on this page or see all listed companies. Questions about this guide: email us. We do not take service requests. Please still run the license and permit checks on this page yourself.