Homeowners insurance usually covers a burst pipe in Texas when the break is sudden and accidental, paying for the water damage it causes inside the home. It often does not pay to fix the pipe itself, and it can deny damage from a slow leak, wear and tear, or a freeze in a house left unoccupied.
The Texas Department of Insurance says most homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, but usually not damage from gradual leaks. Wear and tear is a standard exclusion, so a pipe that corroded and dripped for months is treated differently from one that split overnight. A common freeze exclusion applies when pipes freeze while the house is unoccupied, and most policies do not cover losses once a home has been vacant for the number of days the policy names. Flood is separate: rising water from outside needs a flood policy.
Policies also expect you to protect the property after the break. TDI advises shutting the water off at the main after a sudden leak and warns that a claim can be denied if you do not protect your home, so stop the flow first, then follow the steps for what to do when a pipe bursts. Photograph the damage before cleanup, keep receipts, and hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has seen it.
One honest limit: no general answer replaces your own policy wording, and Texas policies differ on freezing, vacancy and the cost of reaching the broken pipe. Your deductible also applies, and a small break can cost less to repair than the deductible. The same sudden versus gradual test decides whether insurance covers a slab leak under the foundation.