subject: Water Damage And Insurance [print this page] Water damage is listed as a common reason for many home owner's insurance claims in the United States. Although most are caused by burst or leaking pipes, severe weather and flooding cause a significant number of them. Insurance can be complicated and confusing, and may home owners don't understand their policies. Understanding water damage can help you to appreciate the importance of having good home owner's insurance and filing claims properly.
There are three major categories of water damage, and each needs to be handled differently. If you know the different categories and have an idea of what causes each, you will be able to make better decisions if ever faced with a crisis.
Clean Water - This is made of clean water. Usually a result of burst pipes or rainwater, there is no real concern about contaminants.
Gray Water - Gray water damage comes from water that has some contaminants, but generally those that you are likely to contact anyway. This water comes from household appliances such as dishwashers, toilets, etc.
Black Water - This is the water damage that is most threatening. Severe flooding brings black water, from sewer and toilet overflows and natural disasters. Any contact with black water can lead to serious disease and other problems.
It can only take minutes for water to begin damaging the home. A quick response can minimize the damage potential. One of the biggest dangers, which is often overlooked, is mold growth. A type of fungi, molds are micro-organisms related to yeast and mushrooms. Mold can be the hardest type of water damage to prevent and remove.
Mold can damage the home as well as the possessions inside. It is often very hard to spot, growing unnoticed within walls or other hidden areas of the home. Any belongings that are not properly dried can harbor mold growth as well. Quite often home owners will put away things that they believe to be dry. After a time in storage, they discover that mold has damaged or destroyed their possessions.
Even more than the potential damage to objects, mold can be a serious health risk as well. As with many things, the very young and very old are most vulnerable. Mold is particularly dangerous to allergy sufferers, asthmatics, and other with lung conditions. Headaches are common reactions as well.
Fortunately, it is not hard to find a water restoration specialist to help minimize the damage. Removing the water immediately is only a part of the solution. A professional has the knowledge and equipment to dry out your home and possessions as quickly and safely as possible, cleaning up contaminants that water damage may leave behind and saving as many of your belongings as possible.
If you take the proper measures, your property restoration specialist can help you to file the proper paperwork to ensure that your home owner's insurance will help with the costs. Their experience with the software and paperwork required by insurance companies can make sure that the details are covered and you are protected from the results of water damage.
If you experience Water Damage, Fire Damage, Smoke Damage or Mold Damage visit www.EmergencyRestorationOne.com. Our certified restoration professionals will restore your home to the safe environment it was in before your loss.
by: Hurricane Guy
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