Water Damage is the damage done to any property caused by water, either from an inside source or an outside one. It can be slow and barely noticeable or it can be sudden like a flood.
There are many causes for damage of this sort: broken pipes, backed up sewage, foundation cracks, overflow drainage from household appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, and storms.
It is often categorized into three groups according to the contamination present in the water and the threat to public health it poses. The first group is Category 1 in which the water is clean and does not represent a threat to human health. Category 2 is when the water is called gray water and does have significant levels of contaminants present in the water such as urine in overflowing toilet water. Category 3 is black water, grossly contaminated water, which poses an immediate health hazard. An example of this would be backed up sewage.
Water damage can also cause serious health problems by way of mold. Anything from chronic coughing, wheezing, breathing problems and rashes are all symptoms of mold induced illnesses.
Water damages claims are the largest group of claims filed by homeowners. Then they discover what the insurance companies will and will not pay.
Proper home maintenance can determine whether or not your claim will be successful. For example, you put in a claim for damage after your pipes burst during an unexpected cold snap. You find out that the insurance company will pay for the damage but not the pipes. However, if you left the house unoccupied and unheated, then the company would reject your claim outright.
It is very important to watch your language when describing any sort of damage that has taken place in your home. The insurance company has a very narrow interpretation of what a flood actually is. To the company, a flood means water coming in from an outside source such as a river, lake or stream. Pipes bursting in the basement never cause a flood even if the water is up to your knees. Sewer backup does not count as a flood neither does seepage.
When water damage happens in your home, move all belongings away from the affected area as soon as possible. Use a video camera to document what has happened. Contact your adjuster but this is where it gets difficult. Some financial advisers caution against filing a claim if the amount is under $1000. Some homeowners have actually lost their coverage simply because they phoned their insurer to see if they could make a claim. Once your home has been blacklisted by insurers, it is extremely difficult to sell it in the future.
Insurers keep a computerized database that other insurers can access too. Even a single water damage claim is reason enough to refuse further insurance. If you lose homeowner insurance, then you will have a very hard time in the future selling a non-insurable property.
If the claim amount is under $1000, it is recommended not to contact the insurance company. Clean up is still a top priority since mold can set in as early as 24 hours after the water damage has occurred. Water damage cleaning companies specialize in this type of damage and they are usually available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Keep all receipts, keep your fingers crossed, read your policy thoroughly and then contact your agent.
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Tags: home improvement, home repairs, water damage