- 24/7 Water Damage Emergency
- Direct Insurance Billing
When you are looking to make Water Damage Insurance Claims in Bay Area, it is important to first understand whether your insurance policy covers water damage or not. In most cases, most homeowners’ policies cover water damage if the damage is sudden and accidental.
Let us take a look at some of the scenarios and see whether they are typically covered or not:
So is mold damage covered by insurance? It depends on what caused the problem. Suppose the issue is caused by a covered event like a flood or standing water after firefighting efforts. However, if they are caused by a leaking roof, they would not be covered.
The same principle applies here as well. Most home insurance policies will cover line breaks, but they are some exceptions. For example, if the water is leaking for a long time, then that would not be covered.
In most cases, getting sewage backup is a better option to claim for such damages.
As a property owner, you should realize that your home insurance service provider will not want to compensate for every property damage caused due to water intrusion. Here is a brief guide on the damages that are covered and what are not.
|
Water Damages Covered By Home Insurance |
Water Damages Not Covered By Home Insurance |
|
Sudden and accidental plumbing or appliance problems |
Groundwater and floodwater or rapid meltwater enter the basement. You will only be compensated if you have flood insurance |
|
Frozen and broken pipes |
Water or sewer pipe rupture. You will only be compensated if you have a sewer overflow endorsement. |
|
Ice dams |
A leak from an old and not properly maintained roof |
|
Water intrusion due to suddenly damaged roofs |
Damage from long-term leaking faucets or toilets that are not repaired. |
When you give us a call to handle the claims process, we will review your insurance plans and make sure that the particular incident that you are dealing with is covered under insurance. When the adjuster arrives, we will make sure that they properly classify the damage so that you can successfully get the insurance amount.
Apart from understanding the different scenarios that you are most likely to be covered for, it is also important to understand your loss settlement. This would tell you how much you are liable from the insurance company when you get to make a claim.
After your assessment, the insurance adjuster will provide you with a written estimate of the cost of repairing the damage so caused. The estimate would detail the cost of labor as well as material. The materials might include drywall, tiles, paint, and anything else you might need to get your home back in shape. This is what is considered to be your loss settlement amount.
Now, this loss settlement is calculated in two ways: replacement cost value and ACV. If your policy clearly states that it would provide you with the replacement cost, then that means it will pay you the money that is needed to restore, renovate or replace the items so damaged. In most cases, you would get the Actual Cash Value, where you would be paid the current market value of the product.
When it comes to flood damage, it is typically not covered in a homeowners policy. So, you would need to make sure that you understand exactly what is meant by flood damage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency defines flood damage as:
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder’s property) from:
– Overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
– Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
– Mudflow
Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or a similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.”
So, if your home is damaged due to a flood, then you would need to have flood damage insurance first.
Most of the time, you would need to inform the insurance company right when you encounter it. This is required in most cases, as per the policy. You would need to inform them. Otherwise, it might be considered to be a breach of the insurance policy. Generally, it is recommended that you report the damage within 24 hours of it happening.
Once you make the call, the company will appoint an insurance adjuster who will arrive at your place to assess the damage. You can get in touch with a contractor to deal with the emergency recovery process. Make sure that you document the damage before you do anything. It is always better to give us a call as we would be able to make a proper assessment and give you the right assessment at every step of the way.
The time taken for fire damage restoration depends on the extent of the damage. In most cases, it takes from a few days to up to a week.
Yes, we would help you take care of the insurance claims process. However, at certain stages, your presence would be required.
In most cases, you might be able to live in your home while restoration work is being done. However, if extensive parts of your home is damaged, then you might have to live elsewhere.