Posts Tagged ‘floods’

A Simple Broken Pipe Can Cause Tremendous Home Repair Costs

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Water is essential to the existence of nature and everything encompassing it. The lives of animals, insects, humans and even plants are highly dependent on this element. However, water has the capacity to take away the life it so freely gives. Its brute force is able to obliterate the strongest materials on earth. For this reason, people need to be more particular about its presence; all the more, when water is discovered in areas of your house, where it shouldn’t be. Take steps to guard your assets by thwarting the spread of damage, during the first signs.

The most basic knowledge when it comes to protection against water damage is to know where the main water shutoff valve is positioned. Visit its location frequently and check to guarantee that it works properly. Many of us thoughtlessly leave the kitchen sink or bathtub when we are filling it up. This should be avoided. Aside from the fact that it is a wasteful practice, when water overflows many items might eventually break due to moisture build up. Wait for the dishwasher to finish cleaning up before you go to bed. If you set the dishwasher and head straight for the bedroom, when a hose ruptures, expect to see a flooded kitchen in the morning.

Basement floor drain must always be kept open so that water can flow out quickly. Appliances that can accumulate moisture must be checked so as to ensure that they function properly. Machines like the ice-maker, sink, dishwasher and garbage disposal must be free of leaks. A preventive action would be to change hoses every five years. Many water heaters can last up to 10 to 15 years but occasionally, there’s just one from the bunch that has a shorter lifespan. If the tank becomes rusty or wet spots on the floor seem to come from underneath the device, a realistic conclusion would be that there is a problem.

There is a possibility to pipes to split open during winter time’s freezing temperatures. A good way to prevent this from happening is to insulate them. Good ventilation restricts the formation of ice dams. Downspouts must be extended a few feet from your home. The principle behind this is to prevent water from reaching the building’s foundation. Gutters, downspouts and valleys must be rid off dead leaves, twigs and other debris that can obstruct these areas. By cleaning them, it improves your drainage system. Ask your roofer to check on loose shingles and make the necessary repairs for winter damages.

Families planning to go on vacation must not forget to turn off the main water source. Arrange for a neighbor or friend to check for the presence of ruptured pipes on a daily basis. There are available systems that can be installed to monitor your home temperature. Data will then be sent to a central station which operates for 24 hours. Another way of protecting your home is by installing a backflow prevention device or BPD. This protects owners from water damage including the ones caused by a sewer cleanout for homes connected to municipal sewers. It can be said that a moment’s haste costs both in time and money. Have both yourself and your family members pay simple attention to detail. Remember Smokey the Bear says “Only you can prevent forest fires”. V:7

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An Overview Of Water Damage

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

There are a number of things that can happen in life that might result in water damage to your home, and if you are not aware of some important points you might end up having to pay for all of it out of your pocket. Getting in touch with your insurance agent is a good idea so you can prepare yourself in the event that you were to have a claim. When it comes to homeowners and water damage there are some things you need to know that will protect you and help you decide what kind of insurance you need to carry. First of all, you need to understand the definition of the word “flood” to an insurance company.

If your basement fills up with water from your washing machine overflowing, this is not a flood. This falls under water damage. The insurance company has a definition of flood as being water that overflowed from a river, lake or reservoir and flooded your home. You must understand this terminology when you are filing a claim, otherwise, they might deny your claim because they thought it was not covered. Here are some situations that can help you understand the difference.

If the outside temperatures drop below freezing and your water pipes burst, and result in filling up your basement with water, this might be covered under your homeowners insurance, if you did not leave the property unoccupied and without any heat.

There is a pool in your back yard and somehow it starts leaking, and not only does damage to your yard, it fills your basement up with water. Your personal property and the damage to your basement might be covered under your policy, but your yard will not be covered for anything but named perils. You should call your agent to find out the exact named perils.

Knowing what the difference is between the words flood and water damage allows you to know what questions you need to ask your insurance agent, and decide on what additional coverage you wish to buy so that you will not have to pay a whole lot of money out of your own bank account in the event you suffer a loss from this type of damage. Your agent can help you design an insurance program that will keep all your property insured.

Water starts leaking through your roof during a heavy thunder storm, both the roof and your furniture are damaged. In this situation, you have limited coverage. The roof repairs are consider maintenance and might not be covered, but the damage to your home and personal property might be covered. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure what is covered and if there are any special endorsements you can get that will provide that coverage.

When water seeps from any rivers or lakes that are nearby, your policy will not cover these because they are considered a flood. However, you might want to consider buying flood insurance if your area participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.

When any body of water near your property overflows and results in filling your home up with water, this is called a flood and your homeowners insurance will not cover the loss. However, if you live in a area where they participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can get flood insurance. Talk to a qualified insurance agent about what your options are, and what kind of coverage you can get for your home.

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Different Types Of Water Damage

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

The Earth is 70 per cent water and indeed is a large percentage of the human body. It is vital for us to live. However it can also be harmful and there are various types of water damage that people need to be wary of.

The first thing to do is check if you are in a high risk flood area. There should be information available online about this or a local organisation you can contact. The reason it is important to know this is that your insurance premiums could be significantly higher.

The next thing to do is to make sure you get a plumber from a trade association to fit your appliances. You should check your pipes every three years or so and ensure there are no leakages. If an appliance is not properly installed it can leak what is known as grey water and this can be a danger to your health.

A good way of limiting this sort of debris is by installing a gutter guard. These can limit the amount of debris that can build up in the gutters while at the same time maintaining the flow of water. There are different types of gutter guard available and it is worth checking online to see the material that is most appropriate for your home and weather conditions.

It is also important to keep your appliances well maintained. It is recommended that you check the fluid pipes in things like dishwashers and washing machines at least once every three years. Leaks from this kind of pipe produces what is known as grey water. As well as being potentially damaging, this kind of fluid can cause illness and health problems, so it is vital to prevent any potential leaks from happening.

The roof is also an area where you can potentially find more room for water damage, chiefly the gutters. If you install a gutter guard you can prevent more of the debris from forming in the gutters. This means water flows more freely around the house and helps prevent any water damage in the walls. While guards are very useful it is important to note that they do not remove the job of clearing out the gutters entirely and you should check online for the best possible guards for local weather conditions.

Proper installation of appliances should also help prevent any potential leaks so make sure that your plumber is certified from a trade association. Dirty and grey water from appliances can not only lead to surface damage but also ill health and discomfort. Always make sure your appliances have their pipes checked by a certified professional at least every three years.

If you have any concerns about water damage, you should look up more advice online. In the event of any burst pipes, make sure you know where your emergency shut off valve is in your house so that you do not have to spend more money on an emergency call out. Furthermore you can limit the potential water damage by shutting off the supply. With the right information and preventative action you can keep your home safe.

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