Water damage is one of the major causes of damage and loss of property.
The term 'water damage' broadly describes a wide range of probable losses caused by the presence of water in a material or system where it can contribute to destructive processes like de-lamination and rotting of wood and wooden components, rusting of steel and other material etc.
Water causes damage by minor but steady degradation such as water spots or seepage that can mar surfaces or by catastrophic situations such as breaches and flooding.
Some of the common water damage irritants in a home can be: • Bad weather • Broken pipes or hoses from home appliances or drainage • Clogged toilets • Cracks in the foundation • Leaking roofs • Moisture trapped in between wall surfaces • Plumbing leaks As far as insurance coverage is concerned, most damage caused by bad weather is considered flood damage and normally is not covered under homeowners insurance.
Coverage for bad weather would usually require flood insurance.
Categories of Water Damage • Category 1 involves "clean water" or a source or leak that does not pose any safety or health hazard to human - e.
g.
home appliance malfunctions, broken water lines, tub overflows etc.
• Category 2 involves "grey water" or a source of water that carries harmful biological contaminants like bacteria or chemical components like effluents etc - e.
g.
unclean or clogged toilet water closets, seepage from septic tanks etc.
• Category 3 involves "black water" and is the most dangerous of all because of its highly unsanitary nature.
This results from water sources affecting home and indoor environments - e.
g.
sewage backflow, contaminated standing or ground surface water, overflowing water from rivers or breached lakes, seawater etc.
Category 3 also includes 'grey water' that is not immediately sucked out or removed from the sources of the leak.
Classes of Water Damage This is determined by the 'probable evaporation rate' based on the affected surface and the material.
As a first step to ascertain restoration, the class of damage has to be ascertained.
1.
Class 1 - 'slow rate of evaporation' - when material absorb minimum amounts of moisture and only a small area is affected.
2.
Class 2 - 'fast rate of evaporation' - when water has affected the indoor area of a home - e.
g.
floor flooding drenching carpets, cushions etc.
3.
Class 3 - 'fastest rate of evaporation' - when water drips or falls from above affecting ceiling, carpet, cushions, home insulation, walls etc.
4.
Class 4 - Specialty Drying Situations - when drying surfaces like concrete floors, hardwood floors, plastering etc.
with specific low humidity to accomplish drying.
Insurance From Water Damage In the case of homes, many home insurance policies do not provide coverage for water damage and water damage restoration.
Usually this is an addendum incorporated in the policy incurring extra premium payout.
Where individuals and businesses are affected by flooding, the Individual Assistance Program allows them the option to apply for FEMA grants and government loans.
On a still larger scale of utter destruction of life and property by flooding, the FEMA Public Assistance Program provides funding assistance.
The term 'water damage' broadly describes a wide range of probable losses caused by the presence of water in a material or system where it can contribute to destructive processes like de-lamination and rotting of wood and wooden components, rusting of steel and other material etc.
Water causes damage by minor but steady degradation such as water spots or seepage that can mar surfaces or by catastrophic situations such as breaches and flooding.
Some of the common water damage irritants in a home can be: • Bad weather • Broken pipes or hoses from home appliances or drainage • Clogged toilets • Cracks in the foundation • Leaking roofs • Moisture trapped in between wall surfaces • Plumbing leaks As far as insurance coverage is concerned, most damage caused by bad weather is considered flood damage and normally is not covered under homeowners insurance.
Coverage for bad weather would usually require flood insurance.
Categories of Water Damage • Category 1 involves "clean water" or a source or leak that does not pose any safety or health hazard to human - e.
g.
home appliance malfunctions, broken water lines, tub overflows etc.
• Category 2 involves "grey water" or a source of water that carries harmful biological contaminants like bacteria or chemical components like effluents etc - e.
g.
unclean or clogged toilet water closets, seepage from septic tanks etc.
• Category 3 involves "black water" and is the most dangerous of all because of its highly unsanitary nature.
This results from water sources affecting home and indoor environments - e.
g.
sewage backflow, contaminated standing or ground surface water, overflowing water from rivers or breached lakes, seawater etc.
Category 3 also includes 'grey water' that is not immediately sucked out or removed from the sources of the leak.
Classes of Water Damage This is determined by the 'probable evaporation rate' based on the affected surface and the material.
As a first step to ascertain restoration, the class of damage has to be ascertained.
1.
Class 1 - 'slow rate of evaporation' - when material absorb minimum amounts of moisture and only a small area is affected.
2.
Class 2 - 'fast rate of evaporation' - when water has affected the indoor area of a home - e.
g.
floor flooding drenching carpets, cushions etc.
3.
Class 3 - 'fastest rate of evaporation' - when water drips or falls from above affecting ceiling, carpet, cushions, home insulation, walls etc.
4.
Class 4 - Specialty Drying Situations - when drying surfaces like concrete floors, hardwood floors, plastering etc.
with specific low humidity to accomplish drying.
Insurance From Water Damage In the case of homes, many home insurance policies do not provide coverage for water damage and water damage restoration.
Usually this is an addendum incorporated in the policy incurring extra premium payout.
Where individuals and businesses are affected by flooding, the Individual Assistance Program allows them the option to apply for FEMA grants and government loans.
On a still larger scale of utter destruction of life and property by flooding, the FEMA Public Assistance Program provides funding assistance.
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