World’s Most Common Water Damage Insurance Claims & Must-Know Tips
By 911 Water Damage Experts
Water damage can be a huge pain. Not only does it cause massive amounts of damage in your home, but it can also lead to some serious financial headaches.
In fact, water damage is one of the most common insurance claims in the world, right after wind and hail, affecting 1 in every 50 homes. That’s why it’s important to know what to do if water damage occurs in your home and if you can file an insurance claim.
In this blog post, we will discuss the top common water damage insurance claims and useful tips that’ll help prevent unwanted stress.
Let’s get right into it.
Water Damage From Burst Pipes
Broken pipes can be a devastating experience, but with these helpful tips, you can minimize the damage and get your life back on track. Remember: It’s important to act immediately.
Here are some useful helpful tips:
-Be sure to turn off the water at the main valve and remove any affected belongings.
-Insulate water pipes to help prevent them from freezing in cold weather.
-Make sure you have a licensed and insured plumber or water damage company to handle any water leak emergencies.
-Clean up the mess with detergent and hot water, then disinfect all affected areas with a bleach solution.
-Contact a water damage restoration company to clean and disinfect your home.
-Keep an eye on the weather forecast so you can be prepared for potential storms.
-If you see water leaking from a pipe, turn off the water at the main valve and call a plumber.
Water Damage From Heavy Rain
While you can’t prevent heavy rain from happening, there are some things you can do to prevent water damage from heavy rain.
Here are some useful tips:
-Install gutter guards: This can help keep your gutters free of debris, which will help reduce the risk of clogged gutters and flooding.
-Check your roof for leaks: Make sure to check your roof for any signs of leaks, and repair any leaks immediately. A small leak can turn into a big problem if left untreated!
-Clear your yard of debris: Debris such as leaves and branches can clog drains and cause flooding. Be sure to clear your yard of all debris before a storm.
-Install a sump pump: A sump pump can help prevent water damage by pumping water out of your basement or crawlspace.
Water Damage From Melting Snow
While you can’t prevent water damage from melting snow, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of water damage.
Here are some useful tips:
-Keep your home heated: Keeping your home heated will help keep the water in your pipes from freezing and causing them to burst.
-Check for leaks: Make sure to check all of your plumbing fixtures for leaks, and repair any leaks immediately. A small leak can turn into a big problem if left untreated.
-Insulate your pipes: Insulating your pipes can help protect them from cold weather conditions and reduce the risk of freezing.
-Install a water heater timer: A water heater timer can help prevent water damage by automatically shutting off the water heater when it’s not needed.
-Clear your driveway and sidewalks: Make sure to keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of snow and ice, so water can run off freely.
-Install a rain barrel: A rain barrel can help collect water from your roof, which you can use to water your plants or garden.
-Create a snow fort: Building a snow fort can help divert water away from your home and prevent it from melting and seeping into your basement.
-Put ice meltdown: If you live in an area where it snows, put down some ice melt to keep the pathways around your home clear of snow and ice. Ice melt is safe for pets and will not harm them if they lick it off their paws.
Water Damage From Flooding
Flooding is one of the most common types of water damage and can occur from a variety of sources such as heavy rain, broken pipes, clogged toilets, or water heater leaks. Flooding can cause extensive damage to your home, so it’s important to be prepared!
Here are some useful tips:
-Create a flood plan: Have a plan in place for what you will do if flooding occurs. This includes having an evacuation route and knowing what to do with your pets.
-Stock up on supplies: Make sure to have plenty of water and food stored away in case you need to evacuate your home.
-Protect your belongings: Move valuable possessions upstairs or into storage if you think there is a risk of flooding.
-Install water alarms: Water alarms can help alert you if water is seeping into your home.
-Keep a flashlight and emergency kit ready: In case of a power outage, make sure to have a flashlight and some emergency supplies handy.
-Monitor the weather forecast: Keep an eye on the weather forecast so you can be prepared for any potential storms.
Water Damage From Sewer Backup
Sewer backup is one of the most common types of water damage insurance claims and can occur when your home’s sewer system becomes overloaded. Sewage water is highly contaminated and can cause serious health problems, so it’s important to take action immediately!
Here are some useful tips:
-Turn off the water: If you suspect that sewage water has entered your home, turn off the water at the main valve.
-Remove any affected belongings: Remove any belongings that have been touched by the sewage water and place them in a safe location.
-Clean up the mess: Use detergent and hot water to clean all affected areas. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask while cleaning up.
-Disinfect all affected areas: Disinfect all affected areas with a bleach solution.
-Call a professional: Contact a water damage restoration company to clean and disinfect your home.
Water Damage From Appliance Leaks
Appliance leaks are another common type of water damage and can occur when water hoses or valves become worn or cracked. If left untreated, appliance leaks can cause extensive water damage to your home.
Here are some helpful tips:
-Find the most common appliances and inspect them. This includes appliances like: the air conditioner; the washing machine; refrigerator; dishwasher; any appliance that may have been exposed to contaminated water.
-Turn off the water at the main valve.
-Remove any affected belongings: Remove any belongings that have been touched by the water and place them in a safe location.
-Clean up the mess: Use detergent and hot water to clean all affected areas. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask while cleaning up.
-Disinfect all affected areas: Disinfect all affected areas with a bleach solution.
Water Damage From Clogged Toilets
Clogged toilets are a common cause of water damage and if left untreated, water damage from a clogged toilet can cause extensive damage to your home.
Here are some helpful tips:
-Turn off the water. If you suspect that a clogged toilet has caused water damage, turn off the water at the main valve.
-Use a plunger to remove the clog.
-Use a drain snake if a plunger fails, they are designed to crawl through pipes and snag clogs.
-Remove all standing water as it may be contaminated.
-Disinfect all affected areas, like the floor, walls and cabinets.
What Are Some Helpful Water Damage Insurance Claims Tips?
-Keep an inventory of your belongings: This will make it easier to file a claim and prove the value of your possessions.
-Take pictures of the damage: This will help support your insurance claim.
-Call a professional water damage company: The sooner you call, the sooner they can help you with your situation and best advice for the insurance claim.
-Keep a copy of all paperwork: Keep a copy of all paperwork related to your water damage insurance claim for your records.
If you have any questions about this article about common water damage insurance claims or water damage restoration, feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT anytime 24/7/365 all the time. We’re there when you need us!
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