Water Damage - Prevention is the Best Medicine

Water Damage - Prevention is the Best Medicine

"The average American uses between 80 to 100 gallons of water a day, so it's no wonder that some of it goes "astray" and leads to water damage situations."

If you are like most insurance agents or property managers, you have received many calls from customers with a water disaster. After all, the statistics indicate that over 1 million water damage incidents occur every year in the United States. The average American uses between 80 to 100 gallons of water a day, so it's no wonder that some of it goes "astray" and leads to water damage situations.

While many losses are covered, some situations are not. And a better "solution," certainly, is to help your customers prevent water damage from occurring in the first place! Every insured (and every agent) would rather that a few steps be taken to avoid ever having to go through the heartache (and wallet-ache) of experiencing water damage.

Let's look at some of the sources of claims and how we can avoid them. Keep in mind that these suggestions may help you personally as well.

Incoming washing machine hoses are one of the most common sources of water damage in a residence. Granted, the water comes from a "clean" source, but it still flows everywhere when it bursts. With so many families away for the entire day, one broken hose can release a tremendous amount of water in a few short hours. The best solution is to simply turn the hose valves on and off as we start and finish the task of washing clothes. The hose is under constant pressure 24/7; it is inevitable that it will weaken and burst over time.

Many manufacturers post a small notice to replace the hoses every five years, but that notice is seldom seen and even more seldom followed. There is, however, one very simple way of avoiding the problem. Replace the standard hoses with wire-braided, high-pressure hoses. You can get them at almost any hardware supply store. This is something that everyone should do as soon as possible. It's not a question of "if" but only "when" a hose is going to burst. So, replace them now!

This also brings up the subject of other water lines that need preventative maintenance. There is a big difference between a bursting hose from a washing machine and a drip, drip, drip of an icemaker inlet line. Water damage that occurs over an extended period of time due to poor maintenance is often not covered in a policy and yet can cause major damage.

Continual, slow leaks can migrate under vinyl, stone, and other flooring without notice. If you do not check them once a month, you can have a very expensive loss that might not be covered by insurance. So, at least once a month move the refrigerator or other appliances and physically check for any damage or signs of a leak.

Water Line Connections that attach to the dishwasher, reverse osmosis line, or any other water line should also be checked on a regular basis. Get under the sink and feel the lines for moisture. Look on the deck of the cabinet for any drips that are collecting or for signs of wet/damaged materials.

Ice Damming can cause water to enter a house as well. The distance from the eve of a roof to the wall is called the soffit. It is the outside perimeter area that overhangs and protects the walls from water when it rains. When insulation in the attic does not reach the exterior wall, the heat in the home in the winter is transmitted from the interior of the house to the attic. Close to this area of heat loss is the actual roof and just a little bit of heat from this situation (improper insulation) can begin to melt the snow on the roof, which then runs into the gutter. At night or other times of colder temperatures, the melted snow re-freezes forming ice in the gutter. Once the gutter is full, the ice begins to dam and then re-freeze.

If left unchecked, this ice dam begins to build back up the slope of the roof. Eventually, the freezing/melting ice can penetrate under the shingles and sheathing and into the attic/living area. Water damage then appears on the ceilings of the rooms under this area. Again, this is a maintenance/construction issue and may not be covered under a homeowner insurance policy. How can you or your customer prevent this damage? The answer is to be sure to insulate and ventilate your attic properly. You may need to have a professional insulation company conduct an inspection and evaluate the installation of the insulation and assess the R-value of the insulation in the attic. They will most likely recommend blowing in more insulation to protect the home from heat loss. But in addition to the new insulation, you will also need to make sure that the attic is properly ventilated. Air movement prevents condensation and helps eliminate other potential water problems.

Check your toilets for leaks. A leaky toilet can waste as much as 100 gallons of water each day. Test for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, then watch for a few minutes. If the color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Repair your toilet, and it will save you time, money, and hopefully heartache from unnecessary potential damage to your customer's home. Good insurance agents are always looking for ways to provide the best coverage and are also looking out for the needs of their customers and other friends. Take a few moments and consider sending these suggestions to your client list. It will help you demonstrate the care and concern you have for your customers. And, it could help to prevent a loss from ever happening.