Water Damage Loss-You May Need a Public Adjuster

A water damage loss is one of the most common claims filed by homeowners and businesses with their insurance companies. Insurance generally covers water damage. However, property owners may not be aware of the special restrictions in their policies regarding water damage loss claims.

Additionally, property owners should know that water damage and flood damage are not the same things. Indeed, flood damage is not covered by home insurance policies. That goes for business insurance too. A property owner must purchase a separate flood damage policy to cover the cost of flood damages.

What Can Cause a Water Damage Loss?

There are many ways water can get into your home or business. Certainly, natural disasters, such as hurricanes and severe storms, can cause a water damage loss.

In addition, sinks and bathtubs can over overflow. Washing machines and hot water heaters can break down and leave a room flooded. Aged pipes can leak. Water can back up in sewer drains.

Burst pipes in vacation homes can happen in the winter because of freezing temperatures.

Roofs on both residential homes and commercial buildings can wear out and develop leaks. Further, winds from a hurricane or tornado can tear roofs off the building. As a result, gaping holes allow rainwater inside the structure, resulting in damage in your home or business.

What Are the Categories of Water Damage Losses?

Generally, there are three categories of water damage losses:

1. A Category 1 water damage loss is a “clean water” loss. This type of loss refers to a water leak that does not pose a health threat to any residents or visitors to the building. For instance, Category 1 water damage loss occurs with a water backup, leaking pipes in a basement or ceiling, etc.

2. A Category 2 water damage loss involves “gray water.” This type of water is potentially hazardous to people. For example, leaking water from a toilet or a sanitary sewer would be in this category.

3. Lastly, a Category 3 water damage loss is a “black water” loss. This type of incident involves leakage of chemical toxins or sewage debris. Consequently, special clean-up procedures are necessary. Workers will have to follow those special procedures to ensure toxins or bacteria are completely removed.

What Should You Do if You Have a Water Damage Loss in Your Home/Building?

If you have experienced a water damage loss in your home or business, it is important that you immediately take emergency mitigation steps. This includes removing damaged furniture and wet carpeting. Additionally, baseboards may have to be removed to permit air to circulate behind walls.

Moreover, you may want to bring in your own water extraction company or restoration specialist. You will want to get the insurance company or the insurance adjuster’s agreement with this before signing a contract. In case the insurance company wants you to hire someone they recommend, be wary. That is to say, that firm may cut corners to get more business from the company.

Next, moisture detectors will have to be used. For example, if there is still water below the floorboards, or in the ceiling rafters, the drying out process will have to continue.

Lastly, the clean-up should include the use of disinfectants. The growth of mildew, mold, etc., would present a hazard to residents/visitors of the building. In addition, it can cause further damage. Moreover, it could trigger mold provisions and limitations in your policy.

When Should You File Your Water Damage Loss Claim with Your Carrier?

The quick answer is as soon as you can! Your policy may have time limits within which you must report any water damage claims. Of course, this presents a problem for some property owners.

For instance, what about people who own vacation homes? They may only be at those homes a few months out of the year.
For example, what happens if a water pipe bursts but the owner will not be at the house for another two months?
Therefore, make sure you check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see how soon you have to tell your insurance company about a water damage loss.

Flood Damage Loss

If you have experienced a water damage loss from a flood, your typical homeowner’s or business insurance policy property will provide insurance coverage for damage resulting from a flood. Rather, you need a flood insurance policy.

In 1968, the federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) runs the program.

Approximately 60 private insurance companies offer flood insurance under the NFIP. If you have a flood insurance policy, take the time to read it.

Initially, note that the policy requires you to file proof of loss with your carrier within 60 days. Indeed, this is very important. Failure to file within the 60 could cause the denial of your claim.

Additionally, the policy will define what a “flood” is for coverage purposes.
Lastly, it is important to review the policy because it limits the amount and scope of coverage.

If You Need a Public Adjuster for a Water Damage Loss, Call AllCity Adjusting

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. As a result, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

Insurance companies undervalue your claim 8 out of 10 times. Moreover, they hire expensive adjusters to ensure they maintain a strong profit margin. Additionally, they have experienced actuaries that create insurance agency guidelines that help their team of agents to challenge your insurance claim’s validity.

We understand that you have already gone through a tumultuous event. For this reason, get an agency that gets you more.
At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your claim value. Equally important, with over 50 years of combined adjusting experience, we know insurance companies. Furthermore, we understand where they cut corners.

Moreover, we help you build a larger claim and maximize your claim value. In short, we get you back to normal fast. Don’t get fooled, get the company that gets you more.