Frequently Asked Questions from our readers (thanks for your emails!)
Question. Why wouldn't I report this incident to my insurance company?
Answer. If the damage is severe you should contact your insurer right away. We all maintain insurance for such abnormal events which we cannot afford. However, most water damage repair needs are confined to a specific area of the home. Most insurance policies have deductibles of $500, $1000, $2000 or more. In many water damage cases such as leaks and spills, the cost for restoration and repair may well be under or under your deductible level. Why file a claim with your insurer and damage your record with the insurance company (which keeps your insurance costs low) when you are only going to get a small check from them. Save it for the hurricane or the earthquake save it for the sustained roof leak or the discovery of toxic mold.
Question. Can I use my own dehumidifier instead of calling a water damage restoration professional?
Answer. Maybe, if your damage is confined to the area of a small closet or you happen to own a large industrial dehumidifier which professionals use, you can try. You would also need several industrial fans to circulate the air in the effected area in a circle around the room. Otherwise, I am sorry to say that I would recommend calling a pro. Why take the chance.
Question. What can I do if my neighbor caused my water damage?
Answer. If your neighbor leaves their sprinkler or hose running too long or their water pipe is allowed to get old or clogged or leak continuously, it could result in water damage to your own property for which your neighbor is legally responsible. When your neighbor is careless or acts unreasonably with water causing damage to your property, it is possible to sue for compensation for your losses. One would hope that the neighbor puts a stop to the source of the water, but if not, one can also ask the court to order a stop to your neighbor's actions. Of course, as in all things involving your neighbors, it is probably wise to save legal recourse as a backup to simply going to your neighbor's house to talk about the problem.
Question. How do I know if I have water leaking in or a condensation problem with my wall?
Answer. One test of a water leak from a wall is to tape some plastic or some aluminum foil to the place you think the water is coming from. Securely tape each side of the plastic or foil. Give it a few days and check it. If you see moisture on the outside of the plastic or foil then your basement has a moisture issue. If, on the other hand, you see that moisture has formed inside the plastic or foil between the wall, you can be pretty sure that you have a wall leak.
Question. I own a 100 year-old house and we finished the basement last year. Even though I never had problems with water leaks, water did come into the basement from the walls after extensive rain this spring. Do I need to get my basement waterproofed with like a sump pump and trench system?
Answer. I wouldn't rush out and spend money on a water-proofer just yet. You could end up getting soaked (pardon the pun). I recommend that you call your home inspector to inspect the perimeter of your home and see if water is accumulating around your foundation. Primarily, the problem you describe is not caused by a rising water table, which is the problem that a sump pump is most helpful to solve.
Question. Which appliances should I look out for to prevent water damage to my home? And how much will I probably end up paying?
Answer. If you are asking me this then you must be more in a prevention mindset than a cleanup mindset. Lucky you. Safeco, a large national insurance company did a survey involving over a million customers. They found that the appliances which caused the most cases of water damage were hot water tanks and washing machines. This was followed by refrigerators with ice units, dishwashers, and attic based air conditioners. It also seems that average costs of repairs were heavy - around $5000 dollars. Hopefully this gives you an idea of just keeping an eye on these appliances and making sure to maintain them regularly. A big part of the problem is where we choose to place our appliances. In the old days hot water tanks and washing machines might have been in the basement or in the garage where the damage from a leak could be contained. Today we put them in closets or spaces adjacent to family areas on the main floor of our house increasing the risk of water damage.
Question. I live in a part of the country where our winters get really cold. I have an older house and last month a pipe froze and burst causing serious damage to my kitchen. How can I prevent this in the future?
Answer. If you live in a cold winter climate where the temperature gets as cold as 20 degrees or below, you have to watch out for pipes freezing over and bursting. This risk is compounded because people tend to go away during cold winter months, turning off their heating systems inside the house. If this happens at the wrong time it can ruin Christmas or other Holiday fun to come home to gallons and gallons of water causing water damage to your house. To prevent this, make sure that exposed portions of pipes are insulated with something. If you are really worried expose piping wherever possible to the warm air of your house (like in your kitchen by opening a cupboard door or a closet door). Another technique that is less eco-friendly but can be effective in a pinch is to leave some small volume of water flowing through a pipe during a freezing spell. Flowing water is more difficult to freeze than water that is just standing but again this isn't particular great for energy and water conservation purposes.
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