What Your Insurance Company Expects When You Have Water Damage

Home Owner’s Insurance for Water Damage in Your Home or Business

When you have water damage in your home from a roof leak, busted water pipe, toilet overflow, dishwasher leak, etc., you want to know what insurance will cover. Water can be very damaging to structures and it is important to know what you need to do to stop the damage.

It is very important to take proper steps to avoid possible mold in your home or business!

Step 1. Call your insurance agent to discuss the damage. Be sure and cover a few key areas and answer important questions.

• What caused the water damage?
  
• Is the damage you have covered under your specific policy?
  
• Have you taken proper precautions and reported the damage in a timely manner from when it was first noticed?
  

Step 2. Find a reputable water damage contractor to remove the water and begin to make repairs.

• Look in the phone book, on the internet, and check with your agent to find a contractor in your area. In Houston, call H2O Solutions or visit www.restornation.com
  
• Discuss the damage with a contractor over the phone so that they fully understand the extent of damage. Most of the time they will be able to tell you if your situation may lead to filing an insurance claim. H2O Solutions in Houston, www.restornation.com offers free onsite inspections of the damage from water.
  
• Check out the contractor you hire with the BBB to make sure they are reputable. In Houston go to www.BBBhou.org . Also check their quaifications through the IICRC at www.iicrc.org The IICRC sets the standards for water damage mitigation.
  

Step 3. Meet with the adjuster and contractor to review damage

• Your water damage contractor should accurately describe all areas affected by the water.
  
• Your adjuster should have a full understanding of what condition home was in when your water damage contractor arrived on the scene. This will ensure he is paying for all damaged materials in your home including your belongings that may have been affected by the water.
  
• Make sure all areas are verifiably dry, repairs are to your expectations, and all areas of concern are covered before you sign off with your adjuster and your water damage contractor.
  
  

Hiring the Right Water Damage Contractor in Houston, Texas

What to do when you have water damage problem……

Obviously saving your home and your valuables seems to be the most important step when you’re experiencing a water damage loss. But what goes into saving your home?

Hiring the right contractor is actually your most important step. Choosing the best professional help and being ready for your water damage help when they arrive is key to minimizing damage. Your water damage professional is going to be in control of several key factors which include:

• Working quickly to minimize effects of water damage using their knowledge and experience in the water damage restoration industry
  
• Working with all parties involved with water damage including your insurance company, other service providers, and reconstruction contractors
  
• Saving you or your insurance company money in the end….after all, that is the point of water damage restoration, is it not?

Examining each of the key 3 areas will help in making the decision on which water damage contractor will best fit your needs.

1. Working quickly to minimize effects of water damage using their knowledge and experience in the water damage restoration industry. Where does knowledge about water damage come from? The answer is that most or all restoration companies follow guidelines set forth by the IICRC. So it is very important to search the IICRC website or call them directly to make sure your contractor is certified through them. There are many here in Houston that claim to be on their website and are not! Experience comes from working on many jobs and not just years in business. Checking references is an important part of choosing a water damage contractor. Contact a few homeowners, but then look for those business customers and contact them. Ability to service a large business that has had water damage is a good sign.

2. Working with all parties involved with water damage including your insurance company, other service providers, and reconstruction contractors. Check every area if you can. Calling on references can be time consuming, but very important. Has the water damage professional worked with your insurance company before? This can be an easy work history check….just call your insurance company. The contractor should be able to show good work history with other vendors in the industry including dry-cleaning services, plumbers, etc.

3. Saving you or your insurance company money in the end. It is often difficult to judge what a job is going to cost when first looking at a water damage situation. Flooring types, hidden cavities, temperature, power available, and many other factors go into determining cost to properly dry out a structure. Make sure your contractor is within normal drying times by ensuring his equipment will not be in your home or business for more than 5 days.


When you have water damage in your home, you often have a limited amount of time to choose your help. Do what you can to make sure you are not making a poor decision, but don’t wait too long since time is of the essence when dealing with water.

One last note is that many contractors claim to be a part of the BBB. This might be the easiest way to weed out those scrupulous contractors…make the call to the BBB or visit at http://www.bbbhou.org/ to verify history. Good Luck!

http://www.restornation.com/

http://www.thewoodlandswaterdamage.com/

http://www.aquadry.net/

http://www.iicrc.org/

http://www.bbbhou.org/

Water Damage Worries Along the Gulf Coast

Winter Water Damage Worries Along the Gulf Coast

By Chris Burk
Owner of H2O Solutions, LTD
www.RestorNation.com

During the winter months and on into spring, those of us along the gulf coast watch in amazement as we see winter storms pound the northern parts of the US. All the while we are under constant threat of torrential rain storms as the cold fronts pass on through. The truth is, whether it is in the north or along the coast we are all faced with the threat of water damage to our homes and businesses.

In the frozen north, it is very important that home owners take proper precautions to ensure their properties are not damaged as Mother Nature takes her toll. We must take similar precautions along the gulf coast to prevent water damage as well. There are probably 3 very important things to look out for as we move closer to spring, summer, and the dreaded hurricane season…..frozen pipes, landscaping issues, and clogged gutters.

Frozen pipes are a common occurance up north and seldom seen in the south. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It is important that in parts of our homes and businesses that are exposed to the northern wind, we cover up water lines. With the possibility of record low temperatures and high winds, there is a chance of freezing pipes. We should also remember to allow our faucets to drip if there is a threat of freezing weather for an extended period.

Late winter is the perfect time to plan for spring flowers and summer time fun. This is a time when we prepare our landscaping for all that new foliage we so meticulously lay out each and every year. As you make changes to the slopes around your home, make sure to allow for proper drainage by sloping away from the exterior of your home to prevent water from flowing backwards. Pay careful attention to the weep holes around your home as well. I recommend at least 4 inches clearance from the bottom of the weep hole to the top of your soil. Water can easily flow into these holes causing serious water damage to your property. Winter is the perfect time to put in that pool you have always wanted. This causes a serious water damage threat to your home that is often not discussed with your pool installer. Many pool installers do not warn, nor take into consideration, the threats they created when they dig that big hole in your yard. Make sure either the installer, or yourself provide proper drainage around the decking of your new pool. This will ensure that during a downpour that the water has a chance to escape without threatening your home.

How many of us forget about the gutters around our home? They can clean themselves right? Wrong. During fall and winter months all the trees lose a tremendous amount of leaves and needles as they prepare themselves for the cold. Where do all of these go? We can see them scattered along the road, filling all of the yards, but often forget about the rooftops. These leaves and needles can cause water damage that may not be noticed immediately by us homeowners. They clog the drains around our gutters forcing the water to back up and fill to the top of the gutter. As these fill up water tends to often seep into the eaves along our rooftops. The damage is not often immediately noticeable, as it can cause building materials to rot from water damage over time.

Along the gulf coast we are blessed with a moderate climate all year long. Just because we don’t have the threat of freezing pipes all winter long does not mean we don’t have the threat of water damage to our homes and businesses. Take these precautions to ensure your home or business does not fall victim to water damage. For information on what to do if you do receive water damage, please visit www.RestorNation.com