Mesquite grew up fast and all at once. The railroad town east of Dallas had fewer than 1,700 residents in 1950 and passed 100,000 by 1990, with whole subdivisions going up alongside the LBJ Freeway and Town East Mall, which opened in 1971. That means a large share of the city's homes are now 35 to 70 years old, and their original water heaters, supply lines, drain pipes and roofs have either been replaced already or are due.
The Restoration Job connects homeowners and businesses with independent restoration providers. Call (888) 317-9980 at any hour and we'll put you in touch with a company that serves Mesquite and nearby Dallas County communities like Garland, Sunnyvale and Balch Springs.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Mesquite. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Postwar Subdivisions and Plumbing Past Its Prime
Neighborhoods such as Broadmoor Estates, Eastern Heights, Edgemont Park and Casa View Heights reflect the postwar suburban boom that turned Mesquite from farm country into a commuter city. In a slab-on-grade house from those decades, supply and drain lines run under or through the foundation. When one of those lines fails, the first clue may be a warm spot on the floor, a jump in the water bill or flooring that starts to lift.
Slab and wall-cavity leaks call for careful water damage repair: locating the leak, opening only what is needed, drying the affected area and then restoring flooring and finishes. Old galvanized or cast-iron drain lines can also crack, which brings the risk of sewage under the house.
- Watch the water meter with all fixtures off. If it moves, there is a leak somewhere.
- Swap old rubber washer hoses for braided stainless ones.
- Have tank water heaters older than about a decade checked for corrosion.
Mesquite Creek, Interstates and Flash Runoff
The city takes its name from Mesquite Creek, and it sits at the junction of four major highways: Interstates 30, 635 and 20 and U.S. 80. All that pavement, along with decades of rooftops and parking lots, sends rainfall into creeks and storm drains quickly. During a heavy thunderstorm, low streets and yards near drainage channels can flood within minutes, and water can push into garages and back doors on lots that slope toward the house.
Check the FEMA flood map for your address, keep gutters and yard drains clear, and know that rising water is excluded from homeowners policies. Contaminated runoff requires flood cleanup that goes beyond drying, with removal of porous materials and disinfection.
Tornado Alley's Southern Edge
Mesquite lies near the lower end of Tornado Alley, and severe storms are a regular part of spring. On April 3, 2012, one of 17 tornadoes in that North Texas outbreak caused EF0 damage in Mesquite, while a stronger EF3 hit Forney just to the east in Kaufman County. More often, the damage comes from hail and straight-line winds that crack shingles, break windows and tear off flashing.
The water that follows through those openings soaks insulation and ceiling drywall in the attic, sometimes days before stains appear below. Having the roof tarped and the attic inspected promptly after a storm is cheaper than replacing a ceiling later.
Ice Storms, Power Outages and Frozen Pipes
Winter brings a different risk. In December 2013 a storm coated North Texas in sleet and freezing rain, roads turned to cobblestone ice and temperatures stayed below freezing for most of five days. At the peak about 275,000 customers across the region lost power. Without heat, pipes in exterior walls, attics and garages freeze and split, and the leaks begin once things warm up.
Before a hard freeze, insulate exposed pipes, drip faucets on outside walls and learn where your main shutoff is. If a pipe bursts, turn off the water and electricity to affected rooms, then start removing water as soon as it is safe.
Keeping Mold Out of Slab-Floor Homes
Moisture trapped under vinyl, laminate or carpet on a slab has very little way to escape, and Mesquite's long, humid summers keep it warm. Mold can begin within a day or two. A restoration provider will typically pull up wet flooring and pad, check wall bottoms with a moisture meter, cut out wet drywall where needed and run dehumidifiers until readings are normal. If you already see spotting or smell mustiness, mold remediation should be paired with finding the leak that caused it.
Where Callers in the Mesquite Area Are
Calls come in from across Mesquite, including:
- Broadmoor Estates
- Eastern Heights
- Edgemont Park
- Casa View Heights
- Samuell Farms
- Creek Crossing
- Rollingwood Hills
- Original Town
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Questions From Mesquite Property Owners
My Mesquite home was built in the 1960s. Should I worry about slab leaks?
It is worth watching for them. If the house sits on a slab and still has its original supply and drain lines, those pipes are now about 60 years old. Signs include warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water when nothing is on, cracks in tile, or a water bill that jumps without explanation. A leak detection specialist or plumber can confirm the location before any floor is opened.
Water came up through a floor drain after heavy rain. Is that floodwater or sewage?
Treat it as sewage. Water backing up through drains has passed through the sewer system and can carry bacteria. Keep people and pets away, avoid running more water, and do not try to mop it up with household cleaners. Contaminated flooring, pad and the lower part of drywall usually need to be removed, followed by cleaning, disinfection and drying.
Does homeowners insurance cover water from a storm?
Policies usually treat water entering through storm damage to the roof or windows differently from water rising from the ground. Wind or hail damage that lets rain in is often covered, while surface flooding generally requires a separate flood policy. Read your declarations page, report the loss quickly and photograph everything before cleanup begins.