Help! My Home has Suffered Water Damage

One of the most damaging and devastating things any homeowner can experience is water damage. The term ‘water damage’ entails a wide range of possible losses caused by sudden presence of water in your home, where it can lead to destructive processes like rusting of steel, rotting of wooden components, etc. Water damage can be caused due to different reasons such as burst pipes or catastrophic events like storm or flood.
When your home suffers from water damage, you will suddenly panic, worrying about what you can do now and what will happen to your stuff. The most important question you’ll ask yourself is: Will the damage be covered by homeowner’s insurance?
There is no doubt that water damage can be troublesome and the more you know about it, the better you can handle it. Here are some important things you must know about water damage.

1. Insurance Policies 

You may think that whether water damage is caused by flood or a burst pipe, it is the same. However, it is not the case. Flood damage is not covered under standard home insurance policies. If you live in an area where there is a possibility of flood, then you will probably have a policy through the National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP).
You need to specify the claim you are making, whether it is water damage or flood damage, so that it can be addressed accordingly.

2. Bummer! Insurance does not cover all Water Damage 

It is important that you review your insurance coverage and find out about any exclusion related to water damage. Most policies provide insurance coverage on sudden damage, for example, if there was a bad storm then the water damage will be covered under insurance.
However, if water damage is caused due to improper maintenance on your part or gradual leaks over time, then insurance will not cover such claims.

3. Emergency Mitigation 

Once water damage has occurred, you must begin emergency mitigation to protect your home from further damage. How you handle water damage in the first 24 hours is critical for your property damage claims.
There can be serious life, health, and safety risks if water is not completely dried. It is best to contact water damage restoration companies to get the job done. They will have the right water removal and drying equipment to dry out your home and prevent further damage.

4. Contacting the Insurance Company

If your home has suffered water damage, then insurance companies should be contacted right away to make the claim. An adjuster will be sent by the insurance company to assess the damage and determine if it is covered by insurance. If your loss is covered by insurance, the sooner you contact the insurance company, the sooner they’ll pay out.
The insurance company may not send the adjuster right away so it is best to gather evidence for the claim. Take photos of the damage, the water, before, during and after clean up.
God forbid it should ever happen, but if your home ever suffers from water damage, keep these simple things in mind to prevent further damage and make the insurance claim to compensate for your loss.