Whether you are battling a busted pipe, a leaky roof, or storm damage, we can help. Our team understands the intricacies of water damage and insurance claims.
Contact UsOur skilled team of public adjusters doesn’t just handle your current water damage claim. We also meticulously review your policy to ensure you’re adequately protected from future water-related incidents. With deep expertise in water damage insurance, we navigate the complexities of claims on your behalf. We’re not just your advocates; we’re your partners in protection, providing the clarity you need and the outcome you deserve. So you can focus on what matters: rebuilding and moving forward.
An unexpected rupture in your plumbing can result in widespread water damage. From soaked carpets to ruined appliances, burst pipes can cause significant and unexpected havoc. We’re here to ensure your insurance covers the unexpected.
Mother Nature’s wrath, through heavy rains or violent hurricanes, can leave a trail of destruction. Storm-induced water damage can be a devastating blow to any homeowner. Our public adjusters are skilled in ensuring you get the storm recovery help you need from your insurance provider.
A leaking roof can result in more than just a water-stained ceiling. Left unchecked, it can lead to mold, rot, and structural damage. We will help ensure your insurance claim covers the full scope of the damage, including any necessary remediation and repair.
Rising water from an overflowed body of water or heavy rains can cause severe damage to your property, from ruined furniture to structural devastation. Most insurance policies exclude flood damage and require an additional policy. Our team can review your policy to ensure you’re adequately covered in the event of a flood.
Overflow from sinks, bathtubs, or even blocked gutters can cause extensive water damage, often seeping into walls, floors, and causing costly destruction. It’s essential to know that not all policies cover this type of water damage. We can help review your policy terms and ensure you get the best possible claim settlement.
Sewer or water backups can cause an unhealthy and disastrous mess. This often occurs when a city or town’s sanitary main is blocked, causing water to force its way into your home’s plumbing. Understanding policy language around this type of water damage can be difficult, but we’re here to make the process smoother and ensure you’re rightly covered.
Insurance policies are notoriously difficult to understand. But you don’t need to become an insurance expert overnight. Our team members are here to help you understand these complexities and negotiate the claims process with your insurance company. Instead, let us help you navigate the policy language. Here are a few common clauses that might put you at risk:
Many insurance policies cover water damage but exclude flood damage. It’s important to understand that insurance carriers often classify these as two separate events. A flood usually refers to an overflow of a large amount of water onto normally dry land. On the other hand, water damage is often associated with sudden and accidental discharge of water within your property.
Insurance policies often cover the sudden and accidental bursting of plumbing systems or a washing machine hose. However, they may not cover damage from slow leaks that occur over time due to maintenance or wear and tear. Any damage that is considered a result of negligence or lack of maintenance might be denied. We advise keeping detailed record of all maintenance conducted.
Insurance policies typically require policyholders to maintain their property. If an insurance carrier determines that the water damage resulted from neglect or poor maintenance, they may deny your claim. For instance, if a small roof leak that you neglected for months leads to significant water damage, your insurance carrier could refuse to cover the damage. At the first sight of damage, we recommend contacting a public adjuster to determine the full scope of current damage. An experienced and licensed public adjuster will be able to provide insight on the potential future damage that could occur by not remedying the current situation.
Standard insurance policies often exclude sewer backup. Sewer backup occurs when the city or town’s sanitary main is blocked, causing water to forcibly enter your property’s plumbing system. The resulting mess can cause extensive damage, and cleaning up sewer backup is often an expensive and unpleasant process. This specific type of damage may not be covered unless you’ve purchased a specific endorsement or a separate, standalone policy to cover sewer backups. If you are unsure if you’re adequately covered for sewer backups, let our team provide clarity by a comprehensive review of your policy today.
Similar to Neglect and Maintenance, most insurance policies don’t cover damage resulting from wear and tear or gradual damage. This type of damage refers to problems that have developed slowly over a long period of time, such as a slow leak from a pipe that eventually causes serious water damage to walls, ceilings, and floors. Gradual damage, if not covered, can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses. It’s crucial to address any maintenance issues promptly to avoid a situation where damage might not be covered due to this clause.
Some policies may cover water damage depending on the source of the water. For example, rainwater coming through a hole in the roof caused by a hurricane may be covered, but water from a local creek overflowing into your property may not be. We recommend having a public adjuster conduct a full inspection of your property to identify potential risk factors that should be included in your insurance policy.
If your property is unoccupied or vacant for a certain period, typically 30 days or more, some policies might not cover any water damage that happens during this period. This is because unoccupied properties have a higher risk of leaks, theft, vandalism, and other types of damage, as there’s no one there to monitor or maintain the property. Policies can vary greatly in how they define “unoccupied” or “vacant,” so it’s important to understand the terms of your policy, especially if your property will be vacant for extended periods.
The distinction between replacement cost and actual cash value in an insurance policy can significantly impact your payout in the event of water damage. Replacement cost coverage pays the cost to replace damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without any deduction for depreciation. This means if your five-year-old carpet is ruined by a burst pipe, you would receive enough to replace the carpet with a similar, brand new carpet.
On the other hand, actual cash value coverage considers depreciation. In this case, an insurance claim for the same five-year-old carpet would subtract the amount reflecting its age and use, meaning you would receive less than the cost of a new carpet. The payout would be based on the value of a five-year-old carpet, not a new one, and as the policyholder would be responsible for paying for the difference.
It’s crucial to understand whether your policy provides actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. This difference can significantly impact the amount you receive from your insurance claim, and thus your capacity to recover from water damage. To learn more about the difference, please read our article What is Recoverable Depreciation?
The class and category of water damage play pivotal roles in influencing the insurance claim process and the restoration work required. The class, ranging from 1 (minor damage) to 4 (significant water absorption requiring special drying), impacts the complexity of insurance claims due to the extent of damage and the volume of water involved. The category, referring to the water’s source and cleanliness, spans from Category 1 (clean water) to Category 3 (highly contaminated water). This directly affects the scope of restoration, as severe contamination necessitates extensive cleanup efforts. Navigating these intricacies can be challenging, but our expert team of public adjusters is adept at guiding you through these complexities to ensure you receive the fair treatment and adequate compensation you deserve from your insurance company.
To learn more, read our article Water Damage: Categories & Classes.
It’s time to take back control. In the face of daunting water damage—be it from a busted pipe, a leaky roof, or an unyielding storm—you don’t have to go it alone. Our seasoned public adjusters, armed with comprehensive knowledge of the intricacies of water damage and insurance claims, are prepared to stand by your side. With our guidance, you can navigate the complexities of your situation and secure the compensation you rightfully deserve. So don’t let water damage pull you under—instead, let us extend a lifeline. With us by your side, you can reclaim control and start your journey to recovery.
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