With spring comes excess water which may seep into the foundation of your home. Basement flooding from melting snow and heavy rain storms isn’t the only source of water damage in your home.
To prevent headache and excess costs it is far easier to always be on the lookout for ways to prevent potential problems. For help with preventative maintenance check out this interactive checklist that will help identify areas in your home that need to be maintained and what to look out for.
It is also important to spot current problems while they are minor and only requiring minimal maintenance and to know when it is time to involve your insurance company and what to expect.
How to Spot Water Damage (in your home and when buying)
- Water stains on walls
- Buckling of wood floors
- Water stains or standing water under fridge, sinks, dishwasher and washing machine.
Crumbling foundation is a red flag!
- “Sweating” pipes and clogged drains in utility room
- Rust stains or standing water around the water heater
- Check for flaking, cracks or crumbling in a concrete floor, or dampness anywhere in the space in the basement, crawl space and around the foundation
- Mold is a very good indicator that there is excessive moisture *somewhere* in the home
Flooding of your home from a groundwater source like spring run-off, melting snow, overflowing body of water, or swimming pool is not usually covered by home insurance. The maintenance of the foundation is the responsibility of the homeowner and any cracks that are not taken care are cause for a slow leak (at least at the start of the problem) and is not considered “sudden or accidental.”
The types of damage that are most often covered are accidental and not associated with freezing (bursting pipes, for example). This might include a broken dishwasher, backed up toilet or burst water pipe.
Knowing how much you are covered for and what your deductible is can be another issue. Most often residents are not covered for enough. If your damage is estimated at $60,000 and your insurance only covers $40,000, can you afford that $20,000? For most households that added cost or debt load would be devastating.
Do you know how much your deductible is? Most are about $5,000, which is no small fee. It may be a good first step to review your policy or call your insurance company to find out what you are covered for and get their advice on how you can be better protected.
Have questions? Give us a call at 1-800-367-2037.
