Plumbing
Whether it is a burst pipe, an over flowed toilet or a leaky appliance, water damage can cause massive unseen damage to your home or business. For example, a leak in your drain line can cause exposure to category 3 water, also known as “black water”. This water is grossly unsanitary and contains harmful bacteria and fungi which can lead to illness in you and your family if not treated properly. If you have cast iron pipes you have to be especially careful.
These pipes are in most homes that were built prior to 1970 and their life span is 30-50 years. The saltwater that leaks into our soil can make them deteriorate even faster. One of the dangers of these pipes failing is that it allows raw sewage to seep into the soli beneath your home, which creates harmful gasses that can lead to serious health conditions. In addition to this, it attracts cockroaches which eat the sewage, then they find their way into your home. Water damage under your home can also compromise the structural integrity of the property. So, if you notice your water draining slower, or if you have had to call out a plumber to snake your pipes, chances are this could be happening to you. A plumber can simply send a camera into your drain line and see if you have eroded pipes.
We have experienced the blank stares of numerous clients and potential clients after they have shot themselves in the foot just by saying the wrong thing to their insurance company because they did not know. A quick example of you don’t know what you don’t know” is a potential client came to use with a bathroom leak claim from a broken pipe behind the toilet. Upon review of what the insurance company paid, we noticed many things that were not accounted for in their assessment. We did our own estimate and called for a reinspection of the loss. We argued for the tile which was not covered in the initial assessment, as water had leaked under the tile making some pieces sound hollow. We also found moisture in the walls which went undetected and the bathroom backed up to the living room and that area was affected as well. The client was unaware they could even have a reinspection yet knew they were not being given enough for the claim. Needless to say, the initial claim was for approximately $3400 and we took that claim to over $14,000 for the homeowner. No matter what type of water damage you experience, chances are there will be a litany of things that you are unaware of which can hurt you in the long run if you do not have an expert to handle your claim. Let us take over the stressful part so you can have peace of mind.
