Denton Water Damage Restoration for Houses, Apartments and Student Rentals

Denton Between Two Lakes

Denton is the seat of Denton County, on flat ground near 659 feet in elevation. The county sits where the Eastern Cross Timbers meet the Blackland Prairies, and it drains to two forks of the Trinity River. Ray Roberts Lake lies about 10 miles north of the city and Lewisville Lake about 15 miles south, both on the Elm Fork.

The city gets about 37.7 inches of rain a year, and flash floods and severe thunderstorms are frequent in spring. Tornadoes rarely form within the city itself, but Denton sits at the southern edge of Tornado Alley, and wind, hail and heavy rain are part of most springs.

Denton is also a university town, home to the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. With thousands of students, renting is common, and that affects who is responsible when water gets in.

The Night Denton Hit -6 Degrees

Denton's all-time record low, -6 F, was set on February 16, 2021. Across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, temperatures stayed at or below freezing for 139 consecutive hours that week, and burst pipes damaged homes throughout Texas. A frozen line often does not leak until the thaw, when split pipes started spraying inside walls and ceilings.

Freeze protection is cheap compared with the cleanup:

• Insulate pipes in attics, crawlspaces, garages and exterior walls.
• Disconnect hoses and cover outdoor faucets before the first hard freeze.
• Let faucets drip and open sink cabinet doors during extreme cold.
• If you travel in winter, keep the heat on and know how to shut off the main.

When a frozen pipe does burst, shut off the water and call (888) 817-5061. Fast water extraction limits how far the water spreads.

Hail Records and Spring Flash Floods

The largest hailstone ever recorded in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, 5.9 inches across, fell in Sanger, just north of Denton, on June 15, 2023. Stones far smaller than that can crack shingles, break skylights and punch through siding, leaving openings that leak during the next rain.

Spring storms can also dump rain faster than streets and creeks can carry it. Flash floods can sweep away vehicles, so avoid low-water crossings and flooded underpasses. If water gets into a home from outside, it should be treated as contaminated; professional flood damage restoration includes removing soaked materials, cleaning and sanitizing before drying.

After any severe storm, inspect the roof and attic and photograph damage for your insurer. Our storm damage cleanup page covers tarping and temporary repairs.

Renters, Landlords and Student Housing

With two universities in town, many Denton residents rent. When an upstairs unit's water heater fails or a pipe bursts in a shared wall, damage can cross several apartments at once.

If you rent

Report the leak to your landlord or property manager right away, in writing if possible. Photograph your belongings, since a landlord's policy usually covers the building but not your possessions. Renters insurance may cover personal property damaged by a sudden leak.

If you own or manage rentals

Keep shutoff locations and emergency contacts posted for tenants, and act quickly so drying can start before mold has time to form. A restoration company can document moisture readings unit by unit for owners and insurers. Landlords and managers can call (888) 817-5061 for help with single units or entire buildings.

Steps to Take Before Help Arrives

1. Stop the source at the fixture valve or the main shutoff.
2. Stay safe around electricity: keep out of water near outlets and unplug nothing while standing in water.
3. Identify the water. Supply-line water is clean (Category 1); toilet overflows and floodwater are not, so keep kids and pets away.
4. Document the damage with photos and video before moving anything.
5. Lift and move furniture, rugs, electronics and important papers out of wet areas.

A local restoration company can then take over extraction and drying. The sooner that starts, the more drywall, flooring and cabinetry can usually be saved.

How Denton Homes Get Dried and Repaired

Restoration crews start by finding all the wet material, not just the obvious puddle. Moisture meters and thermal cameras show where water wicked into walls, under flooring or into the room next door.

Next comes extraction, removal of materials that cannot be saved, and setup of dehumidifiers and air movers. Readings are checked and recorded until materials reach normal levels, which is the core of structural drying. Then the job moves to water damage repair in Denton: new drywall, insulation, flooring, paint and trim. Ask any company you consider about its licensing, insurance and training, such as IICRC certification.

Mold in Denton Rentals and Homes: Texas Licensing

EPA guidance notes mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours on wet materials. In rentals, where a slow leak may go unreported for a while, mold sometimes shows up before the water does.

TDLR, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, oversees mold assessors and remediators. Jobs involving 25 contiguous square feet of mold or more generally require licensed professionals, and Texas does not allow the same person or company to perform both the assessment and the remediation on one project. A Certificate of Mold Remediation is due within 10 days after the work. Our mold removal page explains containment and cleanup.

Insurance and Records After a Denton Water Loss

The Texas Attorney General notes that Texas homeowner coverage generally centers on sudden and accidental leaks, with mold remediation sometimes capped or excluded. Flood from rising water requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy, and NFIP coverage usually begins 30 days after purchase.

Keep photos, moisture logs, invoices and any notes from your landlord or insurer in one place, and report the loss quickly. For help any time, day or night, call (888) 817-5061 to be connected with a local restoration company.

Denton Areas and Nearby Denton County Towns

Our free referral line connects callers across Denton and the surrounding Denton County communities with independent, local restoration providers.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown Denton / Courthouse Square
• Fry Street
• University of North Texas area
• Texas Woman's University area

Nearby communities

• Lewisville
• Corinth
• Argyle
• Sanger
• Krum
• Lake Dallas
• Hickory Creek
• Aubrey
• Pilot Point

Local emergency and flood resources

Official sources for alerts, flood maps and preparedness in and around Denton:

• Denton County Emergency Notifications (Denton County Alerts)
• Denton County Outdoor Warning System
• Denton County Natural Disasters information
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center