Taking Water Damage Into Consideration | SERVPRO® of Central Union County & SERVPRO® of Western Essex County

11/25/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can be a nightmare to deal with but fortunately, you will always have us.

Water. Let’s face it—we need it to live—everything needs it! But what we don’t need is for it to be causing damage to our property and our homes.

When it comes to damage caused by water, there are many reasons it happens. How many of those reasons are you aware of?

For the period covering 2009 to 2015, The Travelers Companies Inc. discovered the most prevalent reasons for a filed homeowners insurance claim were:

• Wind damage
• Water damage from sources other than weather
• Hail
• Weather-related water damage
• Burglary

Water damage is so common that it appears on this list twice, in two different categories. To make it simple, remember that it can be classified as non-weather-related and weather-related.

Water damage that is not caused by weather occurs most often in the home and is the result of plumbing and appliance malfunction issues. Water damage caused by weather can cause just as big of headache but does not occur as often. Weather-related water damage is caused by events such as rain, snow or melting ice.

The top five reasons for water damage in the home are plumbing, appliance leaks, water pipe issues, older water heaters and weather.

<h4damage-prevention">Water Damage Prevention

While water damage can be pricey, it could be even more pricey if a homeowner is not covered by homeowners insurance. Check your homeowner policy for your coverages. In most cases, damages that are covered in a standard policy are:

• Damages caused by winter weather
• The expulsion of water, even if it is accidental
• Damaged or broken down hot water heating system
• Plumbing that freezes

Fortunately, there are ways to keep water damage from occurring, thereby saving yourself some headaches in the future.

Here are some ideas for preventive maintenance to help you protect your home as much as possible from the damage caused by water:

• Hire a plumber to install back flow valves and standpipes in basement drains.
• Raise your appliances and personal items up off the basement floor.
• Clean all gutters and downspouts.
• Never place grease down the kitchen drain.

When you follow these suggested tips, you just might reduce the probability for any water damage incidents in your home.

Water damage can be a nightmare to deal with but fortunately, you will always have SERVPRO® of Central Union County & SERVPRO® of Western Essex County on your side to help with the cleanup and restoration process.