Your home is your castle, and it is important for you to protect it. What are a few examples of damage that you can protect against? You probably think about wind, fire, theft, and floods. At the same time, did you know that your home insurance policy might not protect you against all forms of water damage? Most home owners insurance can cover a sudden burst pipe, but run into issues when it comes to filing a claim for flood damage.
If you want to protect your home against flooding, you generally need a flood insurance policy. You might be surprised to hear just how dangerous water damage can be. There are several important statistics regarding water damage that you need to know, including that 99 percent of counties in the United States have been impacted by a flooding event during the past 25 years. What else do you need to know about water damage?
Homeowners Insurance Claims: Where Does Water Damage Come From?
There are plenty of situations where water damage can have a significant impact on the integrity of your house. Some of the most common sources of water damage include:
Plumbing Concerns: Aging Pipes and Sump Pump Failure
Water damage is an all-too-common occurrence caused by plumbing issues. Oftentimes, these problems are difficult to detect as they can be out of sight and out of mind. For this reason, it’s essential to inspect your home’s plumbing system regularly – at least once a year – in order to identify any potential hazards or weak spots with hoses or pipe joints. This includes your sump pump, if you have one, which can be prone to failure.
When evaluating the condition of your pipes, consider their age: brass pipes can endure for up to 70 years; copper pipes last more than 50 years; galvanized steel usually survives between 20 and 50 years. Drainpipes are either made from cast iron (lasting approximately 100 years) or PVC plastic (which may never need replacing if well maintained).
Taking the time to assess each aspect is critical when inspecting your own systems and providing knowledgeable guidance should you decide on professional help.
The Average Household Leak: A Leaking Washing Machine
It’s easy to overlook the importance of our washing machine – unless we’re tackling a load of laundry, but if something goes wrong, it can be quite frustrating. Take, for example, if the supply hose is damaged or not properly connected to the wall or appliance; potentially 600 gallons of water could gush out in an hour!
Most people think they would notice this before such a huge amount was released, but let’s face it, sometimes we throw in some clothes and busy ourselves with other tasks around the house. Even just a small amount could cause serious damage – especially if your washing machine is on an upper floor.
To avoid any catastrophic leaks and save yourself from major headaches, replace your washing machine supply hoses every 5 years at least. Additionally, try not to cram too many items into each cycle, as overloading may loosen up essential parts like valves and gaskets which can lead to cracks over time. Taking proper care of your washer will ensure that you have no need to worry about costly repairs down the line.
Busted Pipes During the Winter
As temperatures drop during the winter months, it is important to take steps in order to protect your pipes from bursting. If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, there are several things that can be done to make sure any swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and uninsulated pipes against exterior walls don’t burst due to frigid conditions.
The most obvious way of keeping your pipes safe is by insulating both hot and cold waterlines using heat tape or pipe sleeves (available at home improvement stores). Additionally, keep garage doors closed when possible so as not to leave any water supply lines exposed inside the garage. If it gets really cold, consider opening kitchen cabinets and bathroom cupboards to provide more warmth circulating next to those walls, which can help prevent frozen pipes as well. If you plan on leaving for a few days or weeks; set the thermostat no lower than 55°F while away from home – this will ensure enough warm air reaches all areas of your house including those vulnerable sections prone to freezing.
It’s impossible to control nature, but taking these simple precautions could help save you time (and money) should a freeze occur unexpectedly – better safe than sorry!
These are just a few of the many reasons why you might have water damage in your house. Other common causes include clogged gutters, water heaters, and even concerns if your household leaks waste water. If you suffer water damage, what might be the average cost?
The Average Cost of Water Damage
It is difficult to figure out what the average cost of water damage is, particularly if you file an insurance claim, but there are some statistics we can use. Water damage restoration is an essential service, not only to avoid mold and mildew growth but also for the overall health of your home. It’s important to take action as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the more costly it can be. The average cost of water damage repair ranges from $1,300-$5,600 according to Forbes — not exactly a small chunk of change!
At the same time, information that has been published by FEMA tells a slightly different story. Those who have flood insurance could require payouts in the tens of thousands of dollars to cover the cost of their damage. According to FEMA, the average size of payouts from the National Flood Insurance Program in 2019 was more than $52,000. The information from the National Flood Insurance Program just goes to show just how devastating a flood can be, particularly when natural disasters strike. You might be able to protect yourself with a flood insurance policy, but what do you need to know?
Who Needs a Flood Insurance Policy?
Did you know that floods are generally not covered by home insurance? You might need to purchase a secondary flood insurance policy to provide you with some additional protection. For homeowners and business owners living in areas prone to flooding, flood insurance is essential. Government-backed mortgage lenders make it mandatory for people residing in high-risk zones to obtain this type of coverage.
Even if you do not live in an area deemed as a risk, your lender may still require you to have a policy or else face the consequences of not being considered for any future federal disaster aid. This is even true after previously receiving grants from FEMA or low interest loans from SBA. So don’t wait until it’s too late – protect yourself with the right kind of coverage today. You may want to reach out to an expert who can review your situation with you and see if you need flood insurance.
How Much Is a Flood Insurance Policy?
To answer this question, we can again take a closer look at FEMA. According to FEMA, the average cost of a flood insurance policy in 2019 was $700 per year. Again, this is just another way that water damage can be costly. Therefore, the best way to deal with this issue is to prevent it from happening. Installing flood sensors, particularly those from a strong company such as DROP, can be essential.
Install a Home Protection Valve From DROP Today
How can you prevent water damage from happening in your home? Secure your home with the DROP Home Protection Valve! This innovative system combines pressure sensors, flow meters, and works along side DROP Leak Detectors to provide comprehensive protection from any water-related issues. It features backflow prevention for extra peace of mind, as well as a manual bypass in case of long power outages.
Plus, you can monitor and manage it all remotely via the DROP App – get notifications about leaks or other problems straight to your phone through texts, emails, or push notifications. With its 5-year warranty included, you can rest easy knowing that your home is safe and sound!
Take a closer look at our selection today, and reach out to our experts with any questions you might have! We are always here to help you.
