What Do I Do When I Have Water Damage?

Do you believe it is your responsibility to collect estimates for your insurance carrier for your water claim? It may be a surprise to you, that it is not.

Do you know what is your responsibility, as an insured, during this type of claim? It is the insured's responsibility to prevent further damage to the structure caused by that peril. This means that any water that has flooded an interior must be extracted and dried out as quickly as possible to stop the expansion of moisture to other locations and prevent mold or fungal growth. Also, if the roof was compromised, a tarp must be properly secured before the next rain.

Did you know that if you wait too long and take no action without these precautions, your claim can be denied? Mold coverage is not there for those that take their time collecting estimates, thinking they are doing the responsible thing,

Maybe you are the kind of person that acts quickly and decides to clean up the water yourself. I caution you to be careful. There are 3 categories of water, category 3 being the dirtiest. The category is determined from the source of the water, the amount of time the water has been standing, and if it soaked through contaminated materials to another location. If the water you clean up contaminated water, you may become massively sick by exposure to bacteria, fungi, mold, and viruses. Water can become contaminated by soaking through floors, such as carpets soiled by pets. Also, flood water can wash in many types of microbes.

Another reason it is also important to call in experts is to ensure proper documentation to get your claim approved if it is due to a peril. Our IICRC experts have the tools to measure saturation and humidity to assist the adjuster to determine the scope of work, safety protocol, and coverage losses. You deserve to get your home back to pre-loss condition, and we are happy to help!