If you experience water damage, the first thing that you need to do is call a restoration service. The next step is to turn to your insurance agent. However, before you do that, you should get familiar with the policy and check what your water damage insurance covers.
Since the coverage depends on several factors, a lot of people use expert water damage restoration services in San Diego, CA, not only for sanitation, but also to determine what the cause of water damage is. This article outlines the ins and outs of typical water damage insurance policies.
How does insurance work for water damage?
While water damage insurance policy coverage may vary, there are some steps that you should take when water damage occurs:
1. Determine the source of the water
If you have made sure that it’s safe to do so, you should take action to stop more water from flowing where it shouldn’t. This means that you should shut off your home’s main valve or an individual supply valve leading to your dishwasher, toilet, washing machine and the like. Have your home examined to establish which of the 3 categories of water damage you’re dealing with.
2. Call your insurance agent
There are facts about water damage that homeowners should know in order to take appropriate measures and to know what to expect from the insurance policy.
Water damage usually covers sudden and accidental plumbing issues, frozen, burst pipes, rain or snow storm, accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture, water damage from extinguishing a fire, leaking roof (applicable only to the home interior), vandalism and mold, rot or fungus as a result of water damage.
The insurance policy doesn’t cover the damage caused by poor maintenance or neglect such as sewer and water pipe backup, leaks from old, corroded pipes or unmaintained roof, damage from long-term leaky faucets or unrepaired toilets, floodwater, and groundwater seepage in the basement.
3. Get the water and moisture professionally cleaned up
Regardless of who covers the costs of restoration, you should call professionals immediately to pump out any standing water and thoroughly dry all the surfaces affected by water damage to prevent the spread of moisture and mildew.
Mold remediation is the essential component of water damage and you should take it very seriously. It takes between 24 and 48 hours for mold to form and spread and you should act quickly as it poses a great threat to your health.
Depending on the type of water damage, your home can be highly contaminated and you should have it completely disinfected.
Who is responsible for a water leak?
In general, if the cause of water damage is neglect or lack of maintenance, the homeowner is considered responsible and needs to pay the full cost of repairs. When the reason for water damage is an accident or force majeure the insurance company covers the costs.
Flooding is typically not covered by water damage insurance policies, so you’ll have to obtain extra insurance for this.
Which water damage restoration services in San Diego, CA, should I opt for?
If you experience water damage and you need restoration service, you can count on Risk Free Serv to come to the rescue. Our bonded specialists provide comprehensive water damage remediation and leak detection.
We also give detailed information and advice on the insurance claims process, so you don’t have to worry about the compensation from your insurance company. You can rest assured and explore Balboa Park while our dedicated technicians completely restore your home to its original state. Call us today and leave everything in our capable hands!