Filing Water Damage Insurance Claim    by Alexandra Smilansky

in Home / Home Repair    (submitted 2011-05-06)

There are many reasons for water damages in the home. Pipes often freeze and burst during harsh winter weather, roofs leak due to loose or missing shingles, toilets flood, and appliance water lines throughout the house can drip or leak. Some of these incidents might be accidental, while others happen due to lack of regular house maintenance. However, before approving your claim, your insurance provider will want to make sure that damages were not caused by negligence on your part.

Many damages appear to be acute and occur suddenly, such as when your water heater bursts and 50 gallons of hot water promptly evacuate onto your hardwood floor or Oriental wool rug. However, water heaters, much like any appliance, need to be looked over for clues of potential leaks. If there is rusting of the tank, it may indicate corrosion and the wearing out of the water heater. Before the tank ruptures, causing wet carpet, floors, ceilings and furniture, repair or replace it and avoid this type of unpleasant accident.

Some water damages are subtle and can be unnoticed for a while until the damage becomes apparent. Damaged water lines trickling in the back of appliances or slow dripping pipes under the sink may take some time to be discovered, allowing for mold growth and proliferation. Missing or loose shingles on the roof may allow water from a softly drizzling rain to go unnoticed until fiercer rain showers display the damage quite noticeably. Discoloration or spots on ceilings and walls, indicating water damages, are one example of damage occurring over a period of time. Musty odors indicating mold are another example, as are leaky pipes hidden behind walls. These are examples of clues about potential or imminent damages that can be prevented outright, or at least minimized. Insurance companies may not pay for damages that could have been reasonably prevented.

When filing a water damage claim with your insurance company, keep several things in mind:
• Insurance policies vary, covering different water damage scenarios with specific exclusions and exceptions. It is to your advantage to acquaint yourself with your homeowners’ insurance policy and the particular water emergency situation you are faced with.
• Be aware that most general insurance policies do not cover flood damages. Those are covered by distinct flood policies.
• When filing a claim, document the damages and attach photographs to prove your case. Relevant documentation will often work to your benefit.
• Your homeowners’ insurance company would likely approve your claim if you can show that your home was regularly maintained. Also, show that once the accident occurred, you have acted to contain it and prevent further damages from occurring.
• If the insurance company determines that damages took place as a result of your negligence or recklessness, they will certainly deny the claim, making you financially liable for your restoration costs.
• When faced with water damages and the prospect of filing insurance claims, locate a professional water damage restoration company for your repair needs. These professionals deal with insurance companies on a daily basis and will file your claim with your homeowners’ insurance company, making sure all the information is filled out correctly. This will likely enhance the quick processing of your claim.

About the Author

Alexandra Smilansky is an editorial staff member at Dalworth Restoration, a leading fire and water damage restoration company in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more about water damage tips, visit water damage restoration in Dallas or call 1-800-326-7913.