Tips for Water Damage Claims

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Bursting pipes are unexpected and cause havoc

Bursting pipes are unexpected and cause havoc. Cleanup and repairs can be costly. If your home in West Glenn Estates, AZ, suffers damage from a burst pipe or flood, you'll likely want to make a claim with your insurance provider to help recover the costs of your repairs.

Tips to Avoid Having a Future Claim Denied

Many water damage claims are denied by insurance because the damage is determined to be gradual damage that happened over time. To help your chances with any future damage claims from bursting pipes or similar sudden and unexpected events, follow these tips as you maintain your home.

Keep records of all repairs made over the years
Keep records of all the professionals you hire to do maintenance
Know your responsibilities as a homeowner
Do regular home maintenance every spring and fall
Take care of small repairs as they arise before they become larger problems
Have a clear understanding of your policy, its coverage, and its exclusions
Make sure you purchase an insurance policy that covers your needs
Inquire about extra coverages that will be useful for you and your property

Understanding Gradual Damage
Gradual damage is any damage that was caused over a period of time. For example, plumbing gradually leaking into the walls or floors. Even though you may have been unaware of it, it happened over time. This type of damage may have been preventable had you practiced regular home maintenance and inspected your plumbing. Insurance generally only covers damage caused by sudden and unexpected events. Your failure to fix a broken pipe you were, or should have been, aware of will likely not be covered.
There is no way to plan for the damage caused by bursting pipes. Restoration experts can help you clean, sanitize, restore, and rebuild if necessary. Insurance can help you financially recover from the costs incurred to make repairs. Check with your insurance provider to see what is covered under your policy.