Water Insurance Claim
Whether it’s the water line, malfunctioning sprinkler system or a leaking roof, we’re here to help when water damages your home or business and you need to file a water insurance claim. Follow these simple steps to help with your water damage claim.
Prevent additional damage. Take whatever steps you can to prevent additional damage. Once a water loss has occurred, the single most important thing you need to do is begin proper emergency mitigation. Removal and dry out should begin immediately. How a water loss is handled in the first 24 hours can be critical in the outcome of your property damage claim.
Take pictures and email them to us. Before you remove any standing water, snap a few photos or record a video to email to us later. This will provide a record of the damage.
Give us a call. Get in touch with us as soon as you can 866-362-3929, and it helps to have your policy number available.
During our discussion, we’ll explain the claims process. We will assign an adjuster to meet with you to inspect your home or business. An inspection may be needed to determine if the damage is related to a recent specific event, or if it was actually long-term damage. After the inspection, we’ll work with you to set a timeline for repairs.
Hire your own Remediation Contractor. Consider exercising your option to bring in your own water extraction company, restoration specialist, or dry out firm. The carriers preferred vendor is not always the best choice since they may be operating under cost constraints that limit their ability to do the best job. Regardless, it is extremely critical that you DO NOT sign any work authorization forms without an agreement from the insurance company or their representative adjuster to approve the charges.
The next step in determining the extent of the damages involves the use of moisture detectors, hygrometers, and the use of infrared cameras to determine the exact location of the water. If the insurance company adjuster does not follow this protocol, the outcome of the settlement will be greatly impacted and the complete restoration and dry out process of the insured property could be in jeopardy.
Get professional help, if needed. If you need the help of a contractor to clean up the damage and/or prevent additional damage, but you don’t know whom to call (for example, if you need someone to put a tarp on your roof), we can help you find a contractor in your area. The contractor’s cost is generally covered by your policy, minus the cost of your deductible. Be sure to hold on to any receipts for an emergency contractor’s clean-up work to submit for reimbursement.
A contractor or appraiser does not have the authority to determine coverage, approve payments or begin repairs. Do not begin any large-scale structural changes before initiating your claim and meeting with your adjuster.
Log your personal property. We’ll ask you to complete a log of the personal property lost to water damage as well as a statement outlining the damage to your home. Provide us with the year, make and model of any items lost and the cost of repairing the item or replacing it with a similar item. We may also ask you to submit original receipts, credit card statements, owner’s manuals or appraisals of the property to verify ownership.
Once you’ve started your claim, we’ll process your claim as quickly as possible. We’ll work with you to create a timeline for repairs.