Water damage insurance claims tend to be costly and stressful. Here are five things about maximizing water damage insurance claims you need to know.

1. Know When to Hire a Public Adjuster

Public adjusters can help you maximize your insurance claim and negotiate with the insurance company for you. That’s why it is typically in your best interests to hire a public adjuster if your disputed amount is over $10,000.

Most public adjusters have worked on behalf of insurance agencies before. However, now they have “gone to the other side” to represent the public. They have handled water damage claims like yours on both sides of the negotiating table. They can be a tremendous asset to have because of this.

2. Water Damage vs. Flood Damage

Water damage and flood damage are two very different things. This difference will have an enormous effect on your claim.

Water damage is often noted as the most common type of damage reported in the home insurance industry. It can be caused by problems like:

  • Frozen pipes
  • Broken pipes
  • Poorly-maintained appliances
  • Sewage backups
  • Leaky Roofs
  • Wind-driven rain

Water damage is usually covered by home insurance policies. However, flood damage is not.

3. Do You Need Flood Insurance?

Home insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance wasn’t made available in America until 1968. This was when the US government established the National Flood Insurance Program. Now, many homeowners have flood insurance through the NFIP.

The NFIP defines a flood as rising water or mud that appeared on land that is usually dry. Usually, floods are caused by:

  • Heavy Rains
  • Overflowing rivers
  • Thawing snow
  • Hurricane storm surges
  • Flash flooding

Flood insurance is a smart plan if you’re:

  • Close to the water table
  • In a flood plain
  • In a region likely to be any of these conditions

4. Check That Your Cleaning Company Uses Advanced Cleaning Equipment

Your insurance company may hire their own cleaners for your home after experiencing water damage. For example, make sure that your water damage remediation team uses:

  • Moisture detectors
  • Hygrometers
  • Infrared cameras
  • Other advanced equipment

These will allow them to monitor the location of the water in your home. The cleaners will also need to use disinfectants to prevent the spread of mildew, bacteria, and fungi.

5. Report Water Damages Immediately

Some insurance companies have worded your policy in such a way that prevents you from reporting water loss 14 days after the incident took place. Unfortunately, policies like this can be particularly difficult for people who are on vacation, or those who have a vacation home in Florida.

Your best option, ultimately, is to hire a public adjuster that can walk you through the water damage insurance claims process. Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting are certified professionals who know the industry better than anyone. We can help you get your water damage claims paid by your insurance company. Call us today.