There are a number of differences between water damage and flood damage. Water damage can be insidious, a small leak hidden behind a wall can cause a lot of costly structural damage before it is even discovered. Flood damage can be catastrophic, destroying not only a home, but everything in it. While furnishings and appliances can be replaced, some things, like treasured family heirlooms, are irreplaceable.
Thorough periodic inspections of plumbing, roofs, and gutters combined with regular home maintenance can prevent most water damage. In the event of a severe storm warning, windows can be covered with inexpensive sheets of plywood to avoid breakage, and sandbags placed strategically around low-lying areas.
Some flood damage is caused by faulty sewer systems, most often resulting in flooded basements. Others are caused by extreme weather systems, such as hurricanes. Because extreme flood warnings often require evacuation to save the most valuable thing any of us possesses, life itself, there is often little we can do to prevent flood damage.
What many people may not realize is that there is also a difference in insurance coverage for water damage and flood damage. Unlike water damage, flood damage is not covered by most standard homeowner insurance policies. Flood damage is considered the result of rising water, and water damage, the result of falling water. Under this definition, a flooded basement caused by rising water due to an overflowing sewer system would be considered flood damage.
As the rainy season approaches, homeowners would be wise to check their policies to clarify what type of coverage, and any exclusions, they may contain. If weather conditions in your area are such that those exclusions could adversely affect you, modifying your policy might be a good investment in ensuring the future of your home—and its valuable contents.
If you are seeking water damage repairs done by certified experts, contact the team at ICON Restoration today.