Understanding The Causes of Water Damage | Fayetteville and Hope Mills

4/26/2019 (Permalink)

Severe weather is usually one of the first things that comes to mind for many when the subject of water damage comes up.

Storms and flooding can cause catastrophic water damage however they are often not the main culprits. Instead, there are various items in your home that can be responsible for many situations that result in water damage.

Water damage is something that many homeowners will face, with it being the third most common reason for homeowners to file a homeowners insurance claim between 2011 and 2015, paying out an average of $8,861 per claim.

It is important to know the difference between water damage and gradual water damage, and how it can impact insurance claims. Examples of damage that can happen gradually are ongoing situations that have been happening over a period of time, such as plumbing issues in the walls that will cause damage to walls, ceilings or floors, or water damage caused by cracks in the foundation. Unfortunately, many gradual water damage situations are not covered by homeowners insurance, while storm-related water damage usually is.

According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the leading causes of water damage are:

• Plumbing supply system failures. Per IBHS, plumbing supply system failures are the leading source of residential water losses and cost an average of $5,092 per incident after the deductible. In homes that were 16 to 40 years of age, this was a more frequent occurrence and made up a large group of supply system material failure claims.

• Plumbing drain system failures. This can occur when a sewer drain backs up and overflows into a home or from material breakdown issues. 

• Toilet failures. Toilet failures fall second in line to plumbing supply system failures for residential water damage loss, and can be caused by a faulty fill valve or clogged drain lines. 

• Water heater failures. If your water heater has reached its life expectancy, the tank begins to rust and corrode. This can result in leaking or bursting issues. 

  Washing machine failures. Typically caused by supply hose failures, drain line failures and machine overflows, washing machine failures are one of the top 10 sources of residential water damage losses.

If your home ever experiences any water damage, the professional team at SERVPRO of Fayetteville  is available  24/7 to help with cleanup and restoration and make it look “Like it never even happened.”