Emergency water damage restoration in Houston TX.
Available right now. 24 hours. 7 days. 365 days.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Every minute of delay increases the chance of mold, structural damage, and a larger insurance claim. Call us — a certified technician answers immediately.
Nationwide toll-free: 1-888-373-5996·No after-hours surcharge · Live technician answers · 60-minute ETA guaranteed
60 min
Response time
IICRC
Certified firm
24/7/365
Always available
All carriers
Insurance handled
What to do right now — while we're on our way.
Shut off the water source
If it's a burst or leaking pipe, shut off the main water supply valve immediately. For appliance failures, shut off the appliance. For flooding from outside, this may not be possible — focus on moving critical items to higher ground.
Call 713-597-4466 right now
A certified First Response technician answers immediately — not voicemail, not an answering service. Give us your address and describe what's happening. We dispatch the nearest crew and give you an ETA before you hang up.
Document everything before touching it
Use your phone to photograph and video all visible damage — floors, walls, ceilings, contents, the source of the water. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim. Do not move or remove anything until you've documented it.
Stay out of the electrical zone
Do not use electrical appliances, outlets, or switches in or adjacent to the wet area. Do not walk on wet flooring near electrical panels, outlets, or appliances that may have been submerged.
Do not use household fans or heaters
Consumer fans and dehumidifiers are not only insufficient — they can actively worsen the situation by spreading moisture into dry wall cavities and increasing the rate of secondary damage. Leave the drying to professional equipment.
Call your insurance carrier
After calling us, notify your insurance carrier to open a claim. We can help you do this on-site if needed. The sooner a claim is opened, the sooner your coverage is activated.
Why every hour matters — the Houston water damage timeline.
Houston's heat and humidity compress this timeline faster than anywhere else in the country. A job that costs $5,000 handled in the first hour can become a $30,000 job handled at 48 hours.
Minutes 1–60
Water saturates drywall
Flooring begins absorbing
Insulation holds moisture
Contents at risk
Hours 1–24
Drywall softens and swells
Metal fixtures begin rusting
Wood swells and warps
Odors begin developing
Hours 24–48
Mold colonization begins
Hardwood floors buckle
Paint blisters and peels
Structural members at risk
Beyond 48 hrs
Active mold growth
Structural damage likely
All porous materials at risk
Biohazard protocols may apply
What arrives on our emergency truck.
We don't arrive and order equipment after assessing. Every truck is fully stocked before it rolls. Here's what we bring to your Houston property.
Truck-mounted extractor
Removes up to 25 gallons per minute. The fastest water removal possible — deployed within minutes of arrival.
LGR dehumidifiers
Low Grain Refrigerant units extract moisture down to very low grain levels — essential in Houston's humidity. Not consumer units.
Axial air movers
Industrial-grade high-velocity air movers placed according to a psychrometric drying plan — not randomly pointed at walls.
FLIR thermal imaging camera
Detects hidden moisture behind walls, under floors, and in ceilings invisible to the eye. Used on every job before any equipment is placed.
Calibrated moisture meters
Pin and pinless meters document moisture content of every affected material. Generates the insurance-required drying report.
EPA-registered antimicrobials
Applied to all affected materials as standard — not an upsell. Mold prevention is far cheaper than mold remediation.
What happens from the moment you call.
You call — a certified technician answers immediately
Not an answering service. Not voicemail. A trained First Response technician takes your call, assesses the situation, and dispatches the nearest available crew. You have an ETA before you hang up.
Response time: 60 minutes or less in Houston metro
Crew arrives with full equipment
The crew arrives with a fully stocked truck. Within minutes of arrival, thermal imaging begins — mapping every moisture zone before a single piece of equipment is placed. Nothing is assumed.
FLIR thermal scan + moisture readings before any work begins
Immediate extraction
Truck-mounted extractors begin removing standing water immediately. Submersible pumps handle significant flooding. Every accessible surface is extracted before drying equipment is placed.
Up to 25 gallons per minute extraction capacity
Structural drying system deployed
LGR dehumidifiers and axial air movers are placed according to a psychrometric drying plan calculated from actual readings — not a standard template. Houston's ambient humidity requires more capacity than most markets.
IICRC S500 compliant drying protocol
Antimicrobial treatment applied
EPA-registered antimicrobial agents are applied to all affected materials before we leave the first day. In Houston's climate, this is not optional — it's the difference between preventing mold and remediating it.
Applied per IICRC S500 and EPA label requirements
Insurance documentation begins immediately
Every step is photographed, documented, and time-stamped from the first minute on-site. Moisture readings, thermal images, equipment logs, and scope notes all feed into the Xactimate insurance report. Your adjuster gets a complete, auditable claim file.
Works with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Farmers, TWIA, and all major carriers
Daily monitoring until dry standard is reached
We return daily, record moisture readings, adjust equipment, and document progress. Drying ends when all materials reach IICRC S500 dry standard — confirmed with final readings, not estimated.
Average drying time 3–5 days in Houston
Rebuild and restoration
Once dry, we handle the complete reconstruction — drywall, flooring, cabinets, trim, and paint. One contractor, one scope, one insurance claim. You don't need a separate general contractor.
Licensed general contractor — full rebuild capability
Emergency water damage response throughout Houston and the surrounding counties.
Our Houston headquarters at 16011 Hollister St, Suite C puts us within 60 minutes of any property in Harris County. We respond to water damage emergencies in every Houston neighborhood — from River Oaks and Memorial to The Heights, Montrose, EaDo, Midtown, Meyerland, and Clear Lake.
We also serve the extended Houston metro: Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pearland, Friendswood, League City, Galveston, Conroe, The Woodlands, Humble, Baytown, and Pasadena. If you're in the Houston DMA, we're within reach.
For emergencies outside the Houston area, call our nationwide line at 1-888-373-5996. First Response deploys nationwide for large-loss and commercial events.
Inner Loop / Urban Houston
River Oaks, Montrose, Heights, Midtown, Galleria, EaDo, Museum District
West Houston / Energy Corridor
Katy, Memorial, Cinco Ranch, Briar Forest, Westchase
Southwest Houston
Meyerland, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Bellaire
South Houston / Bay Area
Pearland, Friendswood, League City, Clear Lake, Webster
North Houston / Woodlands
The Woodlands, Conroe, Spring, Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita
East Houston
Baytown, Pasadena, La Porte, Deer Park, Channelview
Your insurance covers this. We handle the claim.
Most emergency water damage events in Houston are covered under standard homeowner's insurance policies. Burst pipes, appliance failures, and storm-driven roof leaks are all typically covered perils — meaning your deductible is usually your only out-of-pocket cost.
We produce Xactimate estimates — the same estimating software your adjuster uses — and communicate directly with your carrier so you don't have to navigate a technical insurance dispute in the middle of a crisis.
We work with every major Texas carrier: State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Farmers, Nationwide, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Chubb, TWIA, and NFIP.
We document conditions before any cleanup — protecting your claim
Xactimate estimates accepted by all major carriers
We communicate directly with your adjuster
Supplemental claims filed when initial estimate is incomplete
Daily drying logs provide the auditable record adjusters require
ACV and RCV policy differences identified and maximized
TWIA and NFIP flood claims handled separately when applicable
No out-of-pocket cost for covered events beyond your deductible
Emergency water damage — frequently asked questions.
How fast can you respond to a water damage emergency in Houston TX?
First Response Restoration targets a 60-minute or less response time for emergency calls throughout Houston, Harris County, and the surrounding metro area. We maintain fully stocked trucks in the Houston area 24 hours a day. When you call 713-597-4466, a certified technician answers immediately — not an answering service — and dispatches the nearest crew to your location.
What should I do immediately after discovering water damage in my Houston home?
First, shut off the main water supply if the source is an internal plumbing failure. Second, call 713-597-4466 immediately — do not wait to assess the full extent of damage yourself. Third, avoid using electrical appliances in or near the wet area. Fourth, do not attempt to dry the space with household fans — consumer equipment is insufficient and can spread moisture deeper into walls. Fifth, take photos of everything before touching or moving anything. The documentation starts your insurance claim.
What does emergency water damage restoration cost in Houston TX?
For covered water damage events — burst pipes, appliance failures, roof leaks from a covered storm — your homeowner's insurance pays for emergency water damage restoration. Your out-of-pocket cost is typically your deductible only. We document the damage with Xactimate estimates that all major Texas carriers accept and coordinate directly with your adjuster. For non-covered events or uninsured properties, we provide transparent pricing before any work begins.
Do you respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Houston?
Yes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year including holidays. Water damage does not wait for business hours, and neither do we. Our Houston emergency line, 713-597-4466, is answered by a live certified technician at all hours. There is no after-hours surcharge for emergency response — our rate is the same at 3pm as it is at 3am.
What types of water damage emergencies do you handle in Houston?
We respond to all water damage emergencies: burst and frozen pipes, leaking or broken pipes, appliance failures (washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, AC condensate drain), toilet overflow, sewage backup, roof leak flooding, storm-related flooding and rainwater intrusion, basement and crawl space flooding, and commercial water damage events of any scale. We also respond to fire suppression system activations in commercial properties.
Why is 60-minute response time so important for water damage?
Water damage follows a predictable and unforgiving timeline. Within the first 60 minutes: water saturates drywall, insulation, and flooring. Within 1–24 hours: drywall swells and metal fixtures begin to rust. Within 24–48 hours: in Houston's climate, mold can begin to colonize. Within 48–72 hours: structural components begin to warp, swell, and delaminate. The difference between a $5,000 job and a $25,000 job is often whether professional extraction began within the first hour or the first day.
Do you handle emergency water damage for commercial properties in Houston?
Yes — commercial water damage emergencies are a core part of our business. Hotels, office buildings, retail centers, restaurants, apartment complexes, and industrial facilities all receive the same 24/7 emergency response. Commercial events get a dedicated project manager assigned on first contact, business interruption documentation begins immediately, and we scale equipment to match the size of the loss.
What equipment do you bring to a water damage emergency?
Every emergency truck is stocked with: truck-mounted water extractors (up to 25 gallons per minute), portable extractors for tight spaces, submersible pumps for significant flooding, LGR dehumidifiers for structural drying, axial air movers, FLIR thermal imaging camera for hidden moisture detection, calibrated moisture meters, EPA-registered antimicrobial agents, and professional documentation equipment. We do not arrive and order equipment after assessing — we bring full capability on the first truck.
How do I know if my water damage emergency is covered by insurance?
Call us first — we assess coverage as part of our initial response. Generally: sudden and accidental water damage from internal sources (burst pipes, appliance failures) is covered under standard Texas homeowner's policies. Flood damage from external rising water requires NFIP or private flood insurance. Sewage backup requires a Water Backup endorsement. Gradual leaks and maintenance failures may not be covered. We review your coverage with you on-site and document the loss correctly for the applicable policy.
Is there an emergency water damage restoration company near me in Houston TX?
First Response Restoration operates throughout all Houston zip codes — from The Heights and Montrose to Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, and League City. Our crews are stationed in the Houston metro and can reach any Harris County location within 60 minutes. For areas outside that range, we dispatch from the nearest available crew. Call 713-597-4466 and tell us your address — we'll confirm your ETA immediately.
What is the difference between water mitigation and water restoration?
Emergency water mitigation is the immediate response phase — extraction, structural drying, antimicrobial treatment, and documentation. This stops ongoing damage and prevents mold. Water restoration is the rebuild phase — replacing drywall, flooring, cabinets, and finishes damaged beyond drying. First Response Restoration handles both phases under one contract in Houston, which means one project manager, one insurance scope, and a seamless transition from the emergency response through the final walkthrough.
Can I do emergency water damage cleanup myself in Houston?
For very minor incidents — a small spill caught within minutes — consumer equipment may be adequate. For anything involving walls, ceilings, flooring, or significant standing water, professional equipment is essential. In Houston's climate, moisture left in walls and under floors creates mold conditions within 24–48 hours — invisible to the eye and impossible to detect without thermal imaging and moisture meters. DIY cleanup that appears to work visually often leaves significant hidden moisture that produces a mold problem 2–4 weeks later.
Don't wait. Call now.
Every hour of delay increases damage. A certified First Response technician answers immediately — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Nationwide: 1-888-373-5996·No after-hours surcharge·Live technician answers