Water Damage

Is your home winterized to prevent water damage?

Winter is coming. Not just a popular tagline from a hit TV show, this is also a good reminder to people to winterize their homes to protect from potential winter damages, such as a frozen pipe burst. However, even the best-prepared and maintained homes sometimes experience problems and non-flood water damage is actually one of the major reasons that people have to file a claim and go through the homeowner’s insurance claim process.

What Causes Water Damage?

Water damage can be the result of: storm-related damages, overflowing pipes, clogged toilets, overflowing/leaking washing machines or dishwashers, broken hoses to appliances, burst or cracked pipes, plumbing leaks, foundation cracks, leaky roofs, heavy rain or snow, sewer backup, and floods. Many homeowner’s policies exclude coverage for water that comes in from outside, which not only includes floodwaters, but also sewage backups.

Risks of Water Damage

One of the biggest risks with any type of water damage is the possibility of mold growth, which can further exacerbate the consequences not just on your property, but on your health. Whether your water damage was from freshwater intake, gray water, or black water, you may need the services of a water restoration/ mold remediation company immediately after the damage occurs. Our public insurance adjusters will work with your company to get documentation of any damages that were cleaned or remediated by the company.

Water Damage Insurance

Despite water damage being relatively common, many people do not know what water damage insurance coverage should cover. Generally, it will not cover repairs to the source of the problem. For example, if washing machine loses its seal and floods your home, causing water damage, insurance will typically not cover the cost of the washing machine’s repair or replacement. However, it may cover a variety of different repairs, such as removal and replacement of impacted sheetrock, painting, and repairing or replacing flooring.

Our independent water damage claims adjusters know what to look for in making a water damage claims assessment. They will be looking for specific things such as water-soaked carpets, rugs, furniture, or clothing. They will examine walls to look for water damage, which may be evidenced by peeling paint or wallpaper, or even water lines or rings. They will examine any potentially impacted electronics or appliances. They will look at the source of the water damage and the cause of that damage. They will look at furniture including wood and upholstery to see what type of damage it has sustained. Our experience and expertise are unrivaled in the field, and our public adjusters won’t stop until you get the most out of your coverage. From immediate danger to potential hazards down the road, our impressive range of modern tools and technology ensures that no drip goes unsearched, no drop goes unsaved.

As one of the most common causes of insurance claims, home and business owners alike are at risk of these uneventful events, and Big Insurance knows just how to take advantage. Don’t let the day of disaster be the day you read your policy. Contact Diversified Public Adjusters today to be safe tomorrow.