Water Damage in the Home
Many times homeowners don’t have any idea that there is water damage in their home until the situation becomes too large to ignore. Other times, it is quite obvious, like after a flood or an accident. Much like smoke damage, this type of problem can be costly to repair, and most of the time can not be fixed without replacing what has sustained the damage. Homeowners may be covered for this, but not unless they have that specifically added to their insurance. Some believe they are covered, but then find out the hard way that they are not.
One of the most common causes of water damage is a leak in the home. Many times these are hidden. When water leaks out of a pipe behind the walls or even in the basement, the wood will warp and must be replaced. If drywall is soaked by hidden water damage, it will have to be replaced as well. If the water leak is missed for a long time, toxic mold may grow in the area, which can be quite dangerous for the occupants of the house. If mold is found, a professional should be called in to deal with it as soon as possible. The family may even be advised to stay somewhere else until it can be fixed.
Water damage from flooding is not always obvious. Though a large flood is noticed, and the damage is very apparent, there are times when problem go unnoticed. Some basements will leak water during times of heavy rain, and that water will sit on the basement floor, slowly damaging everything it touches. It can erode away or damage things like heaters and water heaters. Some people go into their basements all of the time, and they will see the water damage right away. However, people like me who really have no need to go down there might not notice problems for some time.
Materials often give off a musty or ‘off’ smell when moisture soaked. Your own sense of smell is one of the best indicators around for detecting the location of unwanted moisture. When water damage is found, a call to the insurance company should be one of the first things a person does. However, a homeowner may find that they are not covered like they thought they were. When that happens, the cost of repairing water damage might rest solely on the shoulders of the homeowner. If you aren’t sure if you are covered for flooding and other water damage, call your insurance company to find out and add this coverage if you think this could be a problem with your home sometime in the future.