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by: Rudy Silva
Water damage can have a lot of causes. Among them are leaky or burst pipes,
leaky roofs, heavy summer storm or frozen pipes due to winter snow, and broken
sub pumps. Now, if you want to know whether your insurance company will shoulder
the expenses for damage repair, the answer is yes and no. It just depends on the
type of insurance you have.
However, it also depends on how you report the problem to the insurance company.
If your basement sub-pump cannot keep up with the amount of water coming in
because of heavy rains, you need a flood insurance to cover the expenses, as
this situation is considered a flood.
A similar reason is applied if your sub-pumps do not work and you need to have a
replacement. But if the water comes from a crack and collects in your basement,
this is not covered by the flood insurance because the issue is considered
seepage.
When you have mold damage, generally, the insurance company does not pay because
they only cover flood water damage. Mold damage, which is considered secondary
damage, is almost intrinsically a part of water damage. Most insurance companies
do not shoulder the expenses for secondary damage, because they are a
consequence of negligence or lack of proper maintenance and care.
So, if you have damage to your water system, the first thing to do is to find
the source of the leak. If it does not come from the rains, then, it must have
come from a leaky or burst pipe. You can check this by turning of the main water
valve. If the leak comes from your roof, you have to do your best to make it
stop.
Place a pail or basin directly where the leak falls, to contain the water. If
you successfully stopped the leakage and the damage to your water system, it is
time to clean up the mess. But first, you need to assess the damage done to your
possessions.
If it is minor, then maybe you can handle it yourself. Start by drying the area.
Open the windows and bring in some electric fans or box fans, and focus them on
wet areas. This will help dry up the items and areas affected by the water.
You also need to bring out your dehumidifier to take the moisture out of the
air. Have your dehumidifier running until your belongings and surroundings are
dry. This avoids the formation of mold and mildew.
Maybe your books and some furniture are damaged by the water leakage. You can
take them out to the sun for drying or store them somewhere dry and humid if it
is raining. Some homeowners discard unimportant books.
If the water damage brings some foul odor, you may want to clean up with
detergent soap. This removes the dirt and the bacteria causing the bad smell.
Then, dry up with a vacuum cleaner if you have one. If you don’t, use your
electric fans.
But if the water damage is major, and includes the drywalls and floors, then you
had better called for professional help. You will also have to inform your
insurance company.
About The Author
We at http://www.searsclean.com/ can help you with any water damage that you are
experiencing. We have locations throughout the USA to provide you with this
service. We have a water extraction service to remove flooding in your home. We
can dry your area quickly to avoid mold or other damage. Go now to Water damage
mold and locate your service center.
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.searsclean.com
Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_5660.shtml
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