As all of us Floridians know, Summer is quickly approaching and will bring along the heavy rains, winds, and storms which threaten our homes if not properly insured and protected. Although these are all red flags in the minds of many homeowners, it is also important to know there are far more threats of water loss inside your home than outside. Water damages is the leading cause of claims, and over 37% of homeowners in the United States have suffered losses, according to waterfamagedefense.com
In addition to tropical systems which are common during summertime, there are far more common causes of water loss claims such as general pipe leaks, frozen pipes, pipe bursts due to gas buildup, and leaking appliances, to name a few. Did you know the average home loses 14% of its water to leaks? Many policyholders in recent years have experienced very costly and troublesome damages to their homes due to water losses. water loss claims are becoming increasingly more common as they are up 46% in the last five years as reported by Insurance Journal, with an average cost of $6,975 per water-related claim! Water damages can result in harmful contamination to homes via contagions such as mold and mildew as well as destruction to home via rotting of wood, rusting of metals, and wakening the infrastructure of a house. According to www.simplyjustice.com, about 93 percent of all water damages can be prevented. Although water damage can have some very negative consequences, most of them are easily avoidable if you take these simple preventative measures:
- Know where the main water shutoff is in case of a water leak
- Regularly check water hoses to appliances for cracks, deterioration a wear-and-tear
- Never leave a room after turning on the water in sinks, tubs, showers, etc.
- Use water detector devices to detect leaks via water presence and temperature change
In the event of a water damage incident, you should immediately address the issue by shutting off the main water, salvaging all valuables which have been affected by the water damage, and report your claim as soon as possible by calling your insurance carrier first. If you are a Florida Peninsula policyholder call us first at 888-332-3149. We will provide you with the name and number of an approved local water mitigation company to begin the drying process immediately.
